PARIS—A fire ripped through Notre Dame Cathedral, bringing down the legendary Gothic church’s main spire along with parts of its majestic roof and severely damaging a monument at the heart of the French nation.

A column of fire from the more than 850-year-old landmark sent plumes of smoke over the skyline of the French capital. By late Monday night, a force of 400 firefighters had brought the fire under control, and French officials deemed the cathedral’s massive limestone structure safe from collapse. One person was seriously...