Sharjah24 - Reuters: 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.
Rachida Dati told newspaper Le Figaro in an interview published late on Wednesday that by charging only 5 euros per visitor Notre-Dame could raise 75 million euros ($81 million) a year.
In France, where secularism is part of the national identity, the state is in charge of maintaining the country's religious sites, including 15,000 classified as historic monuments, which are usually free of charge.
Notre-Dame has been undergoing reconstruction after a fire severely damaged its roof and spire. President Emmanuel Macron had pledged to rebuild Notre-Dame within five years, drawing massive private-sector financial support.
"As a good Christian, you are supposed to contribute and give some money to the church. But that's supposed to be from your heart, not from charging the money," said Soraya Arango, a tourist from Mexico who visited the cathedral.
French tourist Jean-Marie Delprat said he welcomed Dati's initiative.
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