Huge Blaze Causes 'Irreversible' Damage to Paris Landmark

A major fire caused "irreversible" damage on Wednesday to a landmark 17th-century Paris mansion, the Hotel Lambert, as it was undergoing controversial renovations by the Qatari royal family.

Murals, frescoes and paintings dating back hundreds of years were completely destroyed by the blaze which broke out around 1:30am (2330 GMT Tuesday).

Among the works damaged were frescoes by celebrated French painter, Charles Le Brun.

France's Culture Minister Aurelie Filippetti said the fire had "caused very serious damage to an essential part of Paris's heritage, some of which is irreversible", after visiting the scene.

Dozens of firefighters fought the blaze for some six hours.

It was believed to have started on the roof of the Lambert, a 'hotel particulier' or private townhouse, on Ile Saint-Louis overlooking the Seine, which formed part of a World Heritage site.

The fire "spread pretty fast because the building is empty and in the midst of renovation", fire service Lieutenant-Colonel Pascal Le Testu told Agence France Presse.

"The operation was complicated because the structure is fragile," he said.

Heritage experts arrived at the mansion to check its contents but were unable to go inside due to safety concerns.

Le Testu said the damage appeared to be extensive.

"The roof was completely devastated and the structure is weakened," due to the collapse of a staircase and other parts of the building, he said.

He said the building's famed frescoes by Le Brun in the "Gallery of Hercules" were also "severely damaged by smoke and water".

Filippetti said the "Cabinet des Bains" -- a series of murals and frescos painted by Eustache Le Sueur -- had also been completely destroyed under the collapsed roof.

Paris Mayor Bertrand Delanoe expressed his "shock" and "sadness" over the fire and promised in a statement that the city would monitor renovation works at the building.

Around a dozen neighbors were evacuated and one firefighter was slightly injured during the blaze.

Built in the 1640s at the eastern tip of Ile Saint-Louis, the mansion was designed for a wealthy financier, Nicolas Lambert, by the architect Louis Vau, who went on to oversee an expansion of the Chateau de Versailles for Louis XIV.

The mansion is considered one of the finest examples of mid-17th-century French architecture, featuring frescoes by Le Brun and other masters of the day.

The mansion's uses over the years have included being a hideaway for 18th-century philosopher Voltaire and his lover, and a political headquarters for Polish exiles in the following century.

Its acquisition by the Qatari royal family, which enjoys strong diplomatic ties with France, sparked a dispute as heritage activists feared they would destroy a cultural gem.

Plans for large-scale renovations, including the installation of a parking area and vehicle lift, were initially blocked by a French court following complaints from activists and neighbors.

Qatar's royal family took over the building in 2007 from the Rothschild banking dynasty for some 60 million euros ($85 million).

Supporters of the Qatari family's plans said the mansion had been neglected and damaged over the centuries and was in desperate need of repairs.

Some also suggested the criticism was rooted in opposition to seeing foreigners buy exclusive properties in rarefied central Paris.

The dispute was finally resolved in January 2010 when an agreement was signed with a heritage association after weeks of delicate government-supervised negotiations.

Now the fire has raised fears that historic parts of the building may never recover.

"It really is a catastrophe because we fought for the frescos of the Gallery of Hercules to be preserved in the renovation project and now everything has gone up in smoke or been drowned," said neighbor Sophie Pons.

Qatar's royal family has become a major investor in France, buying up prestige properties, investing in flagship companies such as energy giant Total and media group Vivendi, and purchasing football club Paris Saint-Germain.

The French foreign ministry estimates that Qatar has invested at least $15 billion (12 billion euros) in France over the last five years.