A French politician has suggested charging visitors to Notre Dame Cathedral when it reopens in December.

Culture Minister Rachida Dati wants to charge tourists just over £4 (five euros); this could generate £62.5 million (€75 million) a year to help repair France’s dilapidated religious buildings.

His suggestion comes as Notre Dame prepares to welcome visitors Five years after a devastating fire In April 2019.

Ms. Dati told Le Figaro newspaper: “All over Europe, visitors pay for access to the most remarkable religious sites. By paying five euros per visitor at Notre Dame, we could save churches all over France. That would be a beautiful symbol.”

France There are about 42,000 Catholic churches, most of them poor. Experts estimate that a religious building is lost every two weeks due to neglect, fire or vandalism.

The French government launched several campaigns to combat the crisis, including the “Loto du patrimoine”, which financed restoration efforts.

In 2022 alone, the Home Office spent £47.5 million (€57 million) on religious heritage. £233.3 million (€280 million) has been spent restoring more than 8,000 sites in the last five years. But many rural churches remain at risk.

Ms Dati’s proposal garnered some support, with French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau saying: “If five euros can save our religious heritage, it’s worth it – believe it or not.”

However, the Diocese of Notre Dame opposes this idea, arguing that free access to churches and cathedrals is enshrined in French law and religious principles.

He argues that instead of “taxing” visitors, “other ways” should be explored, and that some visitors should postpone visiting the historical cathedral due to the expense.

Ms Dati said on social media that the entrance fee would apply to cultural visitors, not to those attending mass or other religious ceremonies.

He wrote about X: “Religious services must remain free, but every cultural visitor must contribute to the preservation of our heritage.”

But the diocese argues that imposing different access conditions for visitors and worshipers would prevent people from sharing “the overall experience of the monument and its eternal beauty.”

Before the fire, an entrance fee was already available for those who wanted to climb Notre Dame’s iconic towers. Visitors paid £7 (€8.50) to climb the 387 steps and gain access to panoramic views of Paris, as well as close-ups of the cathedral’s famous statues.

Before the fire, Notre Dame was one of the most visited monuments in the world, attracting 12 to 14 million visitors each year.