Cologne Cathedral is set to charge visitors twelve euros for entry, according to a report by “Welt.” The cathedral administration justifies the step by stating that 99 percent of visitors are tourists. The revenue is intended to fund the preservation of the Gothic structure.
However, the regulation disrupts the sentimental relationship that Cologne residents have with their cathedral. Many locals see the cathedral as part of their identity and fear that the entrance fee will strip it of its character as an open house of worship. The debate over the planned fee had already sparked controversy in recent months.
Source: www.welt.de
