UNESCO chief regrets destruction of Québéc City heritage landmark
The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) expressed “deep regret” today over the destruction of Québéc City’s historic drill hall – inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1985 – which burned down on Friday.
The head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) expressed “deep regret” today over the destruction of Québéc City’s historic drill hall – inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List since 1985 – which burned down on Friday.
“I deeply regret the destruction of this important landmark,” Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura said in a statement. “It is particularly sad that this proud testimony of Québéc’s history was so severely damaged on the eve of the celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of Québéc City.”
The brick and timber structure, built in 1887, has only one brick wall, the main entrance and two towers remaining after Friday’s blaze. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
In his statement Mr Matsuura went on to praise Canada’s “great and generous commitment to heritage preservation,” and expressed the hope that the drill hall would be rebuilt using existing plans and photographs.