Cologne's Catholic Cathedral will begin charging tourists €12 (about $14) for entry from July 1.
The renowned gothic church and UNESCO world heritage site first announced its plan to introduce entry fees in March, becoming one of comparatively few German places of worship charging for admission.
The figure announced on Wednesday is slightly higher than the €10 ceiling proposed in March by architect Barbara Schock-Werner, who heads the Central Cathedral Construction Association (ZDV).Guido Assmann (left) and Clemens van de Wen laid out the plans to reporters in Cologne on TuesdayImage: Benjamin Westhoff/dpa/picture alliance
Why is the church charging for entry?
Church officials said at a press conference on Wednesday that the fee is needed to cover maintenance, security and daily operations of the landmark.
