Government and church 'admission fees' conflict ahead of Notre Dame Cathedral reopening

The government and the religious community are at odds over the establishment of new admission fees for Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, France, which will reopen on the 7th of next month.Culture Minister Rashida Datti
proposed a €5 (about 7,400 won) admission fee to visitors to Notre Dame Cathedral at the French Bishops' Conference (CEF) held on the 18th local time.

While acknowledging the controversy over the charge, Dati explained that collecting admission fees to Notre Dame Cathedral could raise 75 million euros (about 110.6 billion won) a year to maintain religious heritage.

Dati called on religious leaders to cooperate, saying the funds could save 4,000 religious heritage sites in poor condition or in danger of disappearing.

However, the religious community maintains its opposition to the imposition of admission fees, advocating freedom of access to religious facilities.

Archbishop Eric de Moulin-Bofor, chairman of the bishops" conference, noted that churches and cathedrals have always been open to everyone, so having visitors pay for maintenance is "betraying the original calling."

As of the time of construction, the 861-year-old Notre Dame Cathedral will officially reopen on the evening of the 7th of next month after five years of restoration after a fire broke out during renovations on April 15, 2019, causing the 96m-high spire to collapse and most of the wooden roof to be destroyed.

Notre Dame Cathedral was one of Europe's most visited buildings before the fire and is expected to attract 14-15 million visitors a year when it reopens.