Cologne Cathedral began charging a controversial admission fee of €12 ($14) on Wednesday, as the iconic western German landmark seeks to cover rising maintenance and operating costs.
Yulia, a Ukrainian woman living in Istanbul with her son, was among the first paying visitors. She said she had not known admission had previously been free.
"But it is a fair price. It is such a beautiful building," she told dpa.
Many foreign tourists expressed similar views. Michael, a visitor from the United States, called the fee "more than fair."
"Buildings like this cost a lot of money and work. My country, the United States, is only 250 years old. We don't have beautiful churches like this," he said.
Julian, a tourist from Malta, noted that charging for entry was common in many countries to help preserve historic churches.
The Catholic cathedral in central Cologne, located beside the Rhine river and the city's main railway station, is one of Germany's most visited landmarks, attracting around 6 million visitors each year.
The cathedral's authorities announced the fee in March, sparking criticism from some local residents and visitors.
The cathedral chapter says the proceeds will be used for the upkeep and protection of the twin-spired building, whose construction began in the 13th century. It said the cathedral had been operating at a deficit since 2019 and now depends on additional revenue.
The introduction of ticket controls caused minor delays when the gates opened in the morning, with some visitors forming queues as staff encountered initial problems scanning tickets. The issues were quickly resolved, according to a dpa reporter on site.
"I don't want to claim that everything is running smoothly and wonderfully," cathedral provost Guido Assmann said. He added that more signs and clearer instructions would still need to be installed but described the problems as normal teething troubles.
The World Heritage Site will remain free on selected days each year, including from Epiphany on January 6 through the following Sunday, on May Day and on October 3, when Germany marks reunification.
Worshippers entering through the northern gate can still pray in a designated area without paying, while the admission fee applies at the main western entrance. Children under 13 and people with severe disabilities are also exempt.
The policy led to some confusion on Wednesday, with visitors initially attempting to enter through the main gate for prayer before being directed to the northern entrance. Cathedral officials have stressed that tourists who genuinely wish to pray or light a candle will also be allowed in without charge and that no "test of intentions" will be carried out.
By early evening, the cathedral had sold around 500 tickets online and approximately 2,400 more at its new central ticket office, Assmann said.
