Starting July 1, visiting Cologne Cathedral will cost 12 euros 0 15

In Germany, Cologne Cathedral has announced that starting July 1, tourists will be charged a fee of 12 euros to visit one of the country's most famous landmarks.

This renowned Gothic cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site, first announced its plans to introduce an entrance fee in March.

Thus, the cathedral in Cologne will become one of the few German attractions that charge for entry.

The amount announced on Wednesday slightly exceeds the proposed cap of 10 euros suggested in March by architect Barbara Schock-Werner, who heads the Central Association for Cathedral Construction (ZDV).

Church representatives stated at a press conference that the entrance fee is necessary to cover the costs of maintenance, security, and the daily functioning of this historical monument.

The maintenance costs of the building are estimated at 16 million euros per year – approximately 44,000 euros per day.

"The cathedral costs money; the cathedral needs a lot of money. Of course, the entrance fee of 12 euros is therefore more than desirable," said the cathedral administrator Clemens van de Ven.

Pastor Guido Assmann noted that the church "has been closely monitoring the public discussion of recent weeks" regarding the introduction of entrance fees.

"Alongside critical voices, we have also received a number of understanding responses, which made it clear: many people realize that the maintenance and servicing of the cathedral requires reliable and sustainable funding," said Assmann.

It is worth noting that starting February 1, tourists in the Italian capital Rome began to be charged for access to the famous Trevi Fountain, which attracts huge crowds daily.