Visiting the Cologne Cathedral - one of Germany's most important monuments and a symbol of Cologne - will soon be subject to a fee for tourists.

Cologne Cathedral, one of Germany's best-known landmarks, to charge tourists for admission  AP News

Limiting access to German church to well-off visitors would be ‘socially unjust’, critics say Plans at Cologne Cathedral to start charging visitor fees have sparked an outcry, with critics warning…

The iconic cathedral's chapter said the fee is meant to cover the increasing cost of the facility's maintenance, security and operation. The cathedral attracts some 6.6 million visitors annually.

One of Germany's most famous landmarks, Cologne Cathedral, plans to introduce an entrance fee for tourists soon.

From the second half of the year, a visitor fee will have to be paid for Cologne Cathedral. Rising costs and depleted reserves are responsible for this.