The new viewing fee for Cologne Cathedral has not yet caused long queues. Cathedral chapter spokesman Markus Frädrich said there has been no increased rush of people wanting to see the cathedral for free. In the first three weeks of June, the cathedral counted around 400,000 visitors – about as many as in the same period last year.
From July 1, adults will pay twelve euros for entry. Access remains free for worshipers, children up to age 13, severely disabled persons with an accompanying person, and members of the Central Cathedral Building Association. Young people aged 14 and over, trainees, students, accompanying persons of school groups, and holders of a social pass pay a reduced fee of six euros.
The reason for the fee is the cathedral’s financial situation, as Guido Assmann explained. Maintaining the cathedral costs 16 million euros annually. The Archdiocese of Cologne, the Central Cathedral Building Association, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, and the city of Cologne contribute to this. Due to rising wages, material, and energy costs, there is an annual funding gap of four million euros.
Source: www.zeit.de
