Cologne Cathedral will begin charging a €12 ($14) admission fee starting in July for tourists looking to visit the iconic landmark in western Germany, the Church said on Tuesday.
The cathedral said the proceeds from the new fee would be used for upkeep and maintenance of the twin-spired building, which dates back to the 13th century.
Entry to the Gothic cathedral is currently free, while a fee of €8 ($9) is charged for those wishing to ascend one of the spires or visit the treasury.
The Catholic cathedral in central Cologne, located right next to the Rhine river and the main train station, is one of the most visited landmarks in Germany, attracting 6 million visitors every year.
No checks on worshippers
The cathedral sparked an outcry when it announced back in March that it would introduce an admission fee.
Supporters noted that similar European landmarks, like the cathedral in Milan or St Paul's in London, have been charging admission fees for years.
However, other Catholic churches of similar magnitude remain free, including Notre Dame in Paris and St Peter's Basilica in the Vatican.
Opponents also fear that visitor numbers will drop, including from locals who highly treasure their landmark.
Access to Cologne Cathedral is to remain free on certain holidays, including in the period from Epiphany on January 6 until the Sunday after, on May Day and on October 3, when Germany marks reunification.
Worshippers entering the church via the northern gate will be able to pray in a designated area without having to pay the fee, which will be charged at the western gate, the cathedral said.
Operators said there will be no checks on whether people entering via the northern gate were actually going to pray.
Tourists account for some 99% of the cathedral's visitors, according to provost Guido Assmann. Access for children up to the age of 13 will also remain free.
Relatively cheap by comparison
The cathedral said it has made a loss for six consecutive years since 2019, justifying the move.
While operators had so far been able to offset those losses by falling back on reserves, "we have reached a point where Cologne Cathedral’s reserves will be exhausted in the foreseeable future," said Cathedral Treasurer Clemens van de Ven.
The fee to be charged at Cologne Cathedral is still at the lower end compared to other major European churches popular among tourists, with visitors having to pay a staggering £31 ($41) to visit London's Westminster Abbey, while St Paul's Cathedral charges £27 ($36). Entry to Barcelona's Sagrada Familia is €26 ($30).
Barbara Schock-Werner, former master builder at Cologne Cathedral who now heads the church's building association, previously stressed that admission should remain below €10.
The Central Cathedral Building Association has been raising money for the cathedral since 1842, initially for its completion in 1880, and since then, for its maintenance.
