Plans at Cologne Cathedral to start charging visitor fees have sparked an outcry. Critics warn against limiting access to the majestic gothic building to the well-off. Officials said this month that the cathedral could only be maintained with a new revenue stream.
They announced a scheme to start selling tickets from July. The price of admission to the Kölner Dom is estimated to come in at €12 to €15 (£10 to £13). Worshippers would be exempt from the admission fee.
Architect Barbara Schock-Werner said anything above €10 would be irresponsible. Inflation and high staffing costs for 170 employees have driven up the price of the upkeep of the building. Cash reserves used to plug financing gaps in recent years have largely dried up.
Fee-paying visits to the cathedral's 157-metre towers and treasure chamber were halted for long periods during the Covid-19 pandemic. Church officials have made savings, such as reducing staff by attrition. The maintenance of the cathedral costs €16m per year while income only reached just under €14m in 2024.
A shortfall has persisted since 2019. People entering the nave to attend services, light candles or pray in most areas will be exempt from the new admission fee. Tourists accounted for 99% of visitors.
Construction of the cathedral began in 1248 and was completed in 1880. It joined the list of Unesco world heritage sites in 1996. It attracts about six million visitors each year.
In Germany, most churches are freely accessible. An exception is, for example, the evangelical Berlin Cathedral. Tower climbs and church treasure exhibitions often cost admission in Germany.
Access fees for churches are more common abroad. The Sagrada Família in Barcelona costs 26 euros. St.
Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna costs 29 euros. The cathedral's financial challenges have been exacerbated by rising costs and reduced tourism revenue during the pandemic. Officials emphasize that the fees are a last resort to preserve the historic site for future generations.
Critics argue that such fees could deter lower-income visitors and alter the cathedral's role as a public space. The debate highlights broader tensions between cultural preservation and accessibility in heritage sites across Europe.