A French politician has suggested charging visitors to Notre Dame cathedral when it reopens in December.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati wants to charge tourists just over £4 (five euros), which could generate £ 62.5 million (75 million euros) annually to help restore France’s crumbling religious buildings.
Her suggestion comes as Notre Dame prepares to welcome visitors five years after a catastrophic fire in April 2019.
Ms Dati told Le Figaro newspaper: “Across Europe, visitors pay to access the most remarkable religious sites. With five euros per visitor at Notre Dame, we could save churches all over France. It would be a beautiful symbol.”
France has about 42,000 Catholic churches, many of which are poor. Experts estimate one religious building is lost every two weeks due to neglect, fire or vandalism.
The French government has launched several campaigns to combat the crisis, including the “Loto du patrimoine”, which funds restoration efforts.
In 2022 alone, the Interior Ministry spent £47.5m (57 million euros) on religious heritage. Over the past five years, £233.3m (280 million euros) have gone towards restoring more than 8,000 sites. However, many rural churches remain at risk.
Ms Dati’s proposal has garnered some support, with France’s Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, saying: “If five euros can save our religious heritage, it’s worth it – whether you’re a believer or not.”
However, the Diocese of Notre Dame opposes the idea, arguing free access to churches and cathedrals is enshrined in French law and religious principles.
It argues that “other avenues” should be explored rather than “taxing” visitors, some of whom would be put off visiting the historic cathedral because of the expense.
Ms Dati said on social media that the entrance fee would apply to cultural visitors, not those attending mass or other religious services.
She wrote on X: “Religious services must remain free, but every cultural visitor should contribute to preserving our heritage.”
However, the diocese argues that introducing different access conditions for visitors and worshippers would prevent people from sharing the “overall experience of the monument and its infinite beauty.”
Before the fire, an entry fee was already in place for anyone who wanted to climb Notre Dame’s iconic towers. Visitors paid £7 (8.50 euros) to go up the 387 steps and access a panoramic view of Paris on top of a close-up of the cathedral’s famous gargoyles.
Notre Dame was one of the world’s most-visited monuments, attracting 12 to 14 million visitors each year before the blaze.
