TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — If you're wondering why the Notre Dame is so historic, you're not alone.
Here's a quick history lesson.
Teams started building it in 1163 under King Louis VII, but didn't finish until 200 years later in 1345.
The cathedral sits on a small island on the River Seine.
It was damaged during the French revolution in the 1790s, but in the early 1800s.
An author named Victor Hugo wrote a book called The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
It helped spark interest in the cathedral and inspired a major renovation in the 1840s.
A Florida State University professor shared with us what the cathedral burning means for various communities throughout the world.
"It is a moment of unity, certainly, for Christians who pray for Catholics particularly, but it also a moment of unity for the French nation," said Francois Dupuigrenet-Desroussilles, an FSU professor.
An estimated 13 million people visit the cathedral each year.
