Visitors may have to pay a fee to visit Notre Dame Cathedral.

NDO - The French Ministry of Culture plans to charge a small fee to tourists visiting Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, to help the country maintain its world- famous churches and cathedrals.

Notre Dame Cathedral is a symbol of the French capital. It has long been known to many people through the work “The Hunchback of Notre Dame” by the great writer Victor Hugo.

Recently, in an interview with Le Figaro on October 23, French Culture Minister Rachida Dati believes that by collecting only 5 euros from each visitor, Notre Dame Cathedral can raise 75 million euros (equivalent to about 81 million USD) each year.

Many of the country’s most famous architectural landmarks, which attract millions of visitors each year, are in a state of disrepair and new funding is needed to address growing conservation challenges, especially in the capital Paris, said Rachida Dati. The French Culture Ministry is working on a new pricing policy, which is likely to involve a range of public and private organisations and is expected to be implemented from January 2026.

"A nation that gives up on implementing major cultural projects will give up on being a great nation," said Rachida Dati.

The minister also said that tourists from outside the European Union (EU) should pay more to visit non-religious sites in France.

"Is it normal for French tourists to pay the same entrance fee to the Louvre as Brazilian or Chinese tourists? I want non-EU tourists to pay more for their entrance tickets and this surcharge will be used to finance the renovation of our national heritage," said Ms Dati.

In France, the State is responsible for the preservation of religious sites, including 15,000 sites classified as historical monuments, and these are usually free to visit.

Notre Dame Cathedral is undergoing renovations after a fire in 2019 severely damaged the roof and spire of the cathedral. French President Emmanuel Macron has pledged to rebuild Notre Dame within five years, a pledge that has attracted significant financial support from the private sector.

Notre Dame Cathedral is undergoing restoration after a fire in 2019.

Charging an entrance fee to visit Notre Dame Cathedral has caused mixed reactions, according to Reuters news agency.

"As a devout Christian, of course you have to donate some money to the church. But it has to come from the heart, not from collecting money," said Soraya Arango, a tourist from Mexico when visiting Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Jean-Marie Delprat, a French tourist, welcomed the idea of charging an entrance fee. "People have to understand that maintenance work needs to be done, not only at Notre Dame but at other churches as well," Delprat added.

Notre Dame Cathedral is a Catholic church built in the Gothic architectural style. The church is located on the Ile de la Cite, an island on the Seine River in the center of Paris.

Construction began in 1163 and was largely completed in 1260. Notre Dame Cathedral is considered a witness to many periods of French history, including the French Revolution in the 1790s.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/du-khach-co-the-phai-tra-phi-de-tham-quan-nha-tho-duc-ba-paris-post838706.html