French Culture Minister Proposes KRW 7,500 Admission to Notre Dame...Parish of Paris "opposite"

The French Minister of Culture has proposed a 5 euro admission fee for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which will reopen in December this year, and 7,500 won in our money.Minister

Rashida Datti told French daily Le Figaro on the 24th local time, "I have offered the Archbishop of Paris to use the money to protect religious heritage by receiving admission fees from all tourists visiting Notre Dame."

"If you get 5 euros per visitor, it's about 75 million euros a year, about 111.6 billion won," Dati said.

But the Parisian diocese objected in a press release, saying, "The mission of the cathedral and church is to welcome all men and women unconditionally and for free."

"In Notre Dame, there is no distinction between believers and visitors, and visits continue during worship," the diocese said. "Setting different conditions for access between believers and visitors could result in everyone giving up visiting the cathedral, which is open to everyone."

Alexandre Gaddy, a member of the Architectural Heritage Committee and cultural heritage historian, also criticized Radio France's Anpo, saying, "It is ridiculous to receive admission fees to Notre Dame Cathedral," adding, "It is a philosophical break far from heritage."

As of the time of construction, Notre Dame Cathedral, which has 861 years of history, caught fire during renovations on April 15, 2019, collapsing its 96m-high spire and destroying most of its wooden roof.

The French authorities will continue the restoration work for the next five years and reopen it to the public on December 8.