France’s culture minister has proposed introducing an entrance fee to visit Notre Dame cathedral in Paris when it reopens in December, aiming to generate funds for the preservation of the country’s religious heritage.

France should charge visitors a small fee to see the Notre-Dame cathedral to help the country keep its world-famous churches and cathedrals in shape, the culture minister said.

French ministers have raised the idea of charging tourists to enter Paris' world-famous Notre-Dame cathedral when it opens in December after a five-year restoration, a proposal that drew a rebuke from the city's diocese on Thursday.

The French government wants to charge tourists €5 to enter Notre-Dame Cathedral when it reopens.Rachida Dati, the culture minister, said that Paris is “underprotected” as she unveiled financing plans to help safeguard France’s national treasures and religious monuments,

The French Minister of Culture, Rachida Dati, wants to levy an entrance fee of five euros for tourists in order to fund restoration work of religious buildings. View on euronews

Should tourists pay to visit France’s Notre-Dame Cathedral? :: Paris, France:::: Erick Larraga, Mexican tourist "I think that they shouldn't charge for that. It's a principle, you know, it's a religious site and people should be free to go to religious sites free of charge.

French ministers have raised the idea of charging tourists to enter Paris' world-famous Notre-Dame cathedral when it opens in December after a five-year restoration, a proposal that drew a rebuke from the city's diocese on Thursday.