Before the fire, around 13 million tourists, pilgrims and worshippers visited the French gothic masterpiece each year. Once reopened following repairs that have cost €760 million, this is expected to rise to between 14 and 15 and million. Calls to charge admission to enter the 861-year-old cathedral are ever-louder, and Culture minister Rachida Dati’s voice is amongst them.
Most Read on Euro Weekly News Speaking to Le Figaro newspaper in October, Dati suggested that a €5 fee to enter Notre-Dame would generate €75 million a year. “Across Europe, visitors pay to access the most remarkable religious sites. With €5 per visitor at Notre-Dame, we could save churches all over France.
It would be a beautiful symbol,” she said. Notre-Dame entrance fee would not apply to worshippers Dati stressed that the charge would apply only to cultural visitors, not those attending mass or other religious services. Interior minister Bruno Retailleau agreed with her.
“If €5 can save our religious heritage, it’s worth it whether you’re a believer or not.” Regardless of a future Notre-Dame entry fee, funds are badly needed as many of France’s 42,000 Catholic churches are in a bad state of repair and the Ministry of Culture is responsible for their maintenance and restoration. Le Monde went further still.
Paid tickets needed be introduced, the newspaper declared on November 15. “Not just at Notre-Dame, but at the cathedrals of Chartres, Bourges, Reims, Strasbourg or Amiens..