On 5 March, the chapter governing the Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral) announced plans to begin charging an admission fee for visitors in the 2nd-half of 2026, although no details were disclosed about the fee or actual starting date (July onwards?).
DW (🇩🇪, in English) - https://www.dw.com/en/cologne-cathedral-to-start-charging-admission-fee/a-76232489
The Guardian (🇬🇧) - https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/mar/11/cologne-cathedral-plans-visitor-fees-outcry
Henry, thanks for the information. I have such mixed feelings about things like this. On one hand, I hate the thought of having to stop and pay a fee every time I want to walk in and enjoy the beauty of the cathedral. But on the other hand, I certainly recognize that cathedrals have many expenses that are exacerbated by the myriad of tourists that come through, so I can't say that I really blame them. And they're certainly not alone in that.
Regardless, I almost always put some kind of donation in when churches and cathedrals don't charge a fee, but I realize that they can't depend on donations for their expenses.
