The cathedral dates back to the 12th century and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, attracting millions of visitors annually. It is the site of Victor Hugo's classic, "The Hunchback of Notre-Dame."
President of the European Council Donald Tusk tweeted, "Notre-Dame of Paris is Notre-Dame of all Europe. We are all with Paris today."[13]
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a message to France that Notre Dame is "a symbol of French and European Culture" and Germany's foreign minister, Heiko Maas, said the fire was 'hitting the hearts' of the German people.[14]
U.S. President Donald Trump tweeted, "So horrible to watch the massive fire at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. Perhaps flying water tankers could be used to put it out. Must act quickly!"