“Across Europe, visitors pay to access the most remarkable religious sites. With 5 euros per visitor at Notre Dame, we could save churches all over France. It would be a beautiful symbol,” Dati said in an interview. le figaro
The French government has launched several campaigns to combat the crisis, including the Loto du Patrimoine, which funds restoration efforts. In 2022 alone, the Interior Ministry spent 57 million euros on religious heritage, and over the past five years 280 million euros have gone toward restoring over 8,000 sites. Yet many rural churches remain at risk.
Notre Dame's reopening is particularly poignant.It was once one of the most visited monuments in the world, attracting 12 to 14 million visitors each year.
Dati said on social platform X that the entrance fee applies to cultural visitors and not to those attending mass or other religious services.
Before the fire, Notre Dame Cathedral's iconic tower already had an entrance fee. Visitors paid €8.50 to climb the 387 steps to get a panoramic view of Paris and a close-up of the cathedral's famous gargoyles.
