"Once a Top Attraction for 6 Million Visitors"…Germany's Cologne Cathedral to Introduce Admission Fee

Six Consecutive Years of Deficits; Reserve Funds Nearly Exhausted

"Expecting to Ease Noise and Overcrowding"; Mass Attendees Exempt from Fees

Cologne Cathedral, a landmark tourist attraction in Germany, is planning to introduce an admission fee for visitors starting in the second half of this year due to financial difficulties. As this world-renowned cathedral, which attracts 6 million visitors annually, moves toward charging for entry, the debate between openness of religious sites and tourism management is once again drawing attention.

Cologne Cathedral. UNESCO website

According to Yonhap News on March 5 (local time), citing dpa and other sources, Cologne Cathedral, considered one of the most famous architectural structures in Germany, has decided to charge an admission fee for tourists beginning in the second half of this year.

The cathedral authorities stated that they have recorded deficits for six consecutive years since 2019, and the reserve funds used to cover financial shortfalls are now nearly depleted. However, the specific level of the admission fee has not yet been determined, and those attending Mass will continue to be exempt from this fee as before.

Currently, the cathedral’s treasure chamber and observation deck already require separate admission fees. The cathedral further explained that revenue from these facilities dropped sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic, as visitor numbers plummeted, leading to heavy use of reserve funds and a worsening of the financial situation.

Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cologne Cathedral is a major tourist destination in western Germany, attracting around 6 million visitors annually. The building, completed in Gothic style in 1880 after more than 600 years of construction, features spires that reach 157.4 meters in height. For several years after its completion, it was also the tallest building in the world.

In Europe, whether famous cathedrals should charge tourists for entry remains a frequent subject of debate. Opinions are divided between the need to reduce visitor numbers and secure maintenance funds, and the argument that public access to religious sites should be maintained.

Similarly, the French Ministry of Culture proposed introducing an admission fee for Notre-Dame Cathedral—which receives more than 10 million visitors annually—upon its reopening in November 2024, but the plan was scrapped due to opposition from the church.

The Cologne Cathedral authorities expect that introducing an admission fee will help alleviate overcrowding issues. Chief priest Guido Assmann stated, "There have been ongoing complaints about constant noise and large crowds," adding, "The admission fee will help make the cathedral a calmer place and enhance the experience of the sacred space."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.