Overview
- The Domkapitel announced on Monday that, starting in the second half of the year, visitors will have to pay to enter the cathedral interior while acts of worship such as prayer and lighting candles will remain free.
- About six million people visit the cathedral each year and the chapter says the new charge is meant to calm daily operations and recover a more sacred atmosphere inside the Dom.
- The exact price has not been set and officials present the measure as crowd management and preservation rather than a charge on religious practice.
- The chapter expects visitor numbers could fall and the interior experience could improve as a result, but local reaction and the eventual fee level will shape how much the change affects tourism and city life.
- The decision touches a site that is both a UNESCO World Heritage landmark and Cologne's civic symbol, known for its 157-meter twin towers, huge medieval bell and long history as a major pilgrimage and national monument.