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Transcript
00:00It was a blaze which shocked the world.
00:05Five years and 846 million euros later, the world-famous Cathedral of Notre Dame is soon
00:12ready to once again open its doors to the world.
00:15But there might be a catch.
00:17Where a visit to the symbolic monument was once free, it might now cost you five euros,
00:23as suggested by Culture Minister Rashida Dati on Wednesday.
00:26I think they shouldn't charge for that, it's a principle, it's a religious site and people
00:37should be free to go to religious sites free of charge.
00:43The suggested entrance fee could potentially raise 75 million euros a year.
00:49The funds raised would go towards maintenance and renovation work of religious buildings
00:53around France.
00:54The French minister also said that international visitors might be charged more than locals,
01:00an idea which unsurprisingly does not resonate with tourists visiting the capital.
01:04Why should a tourist pay more than someone who lives here?
01:09I think there should be a single rate except for people who are unemployed or disabled.
01:13But I think we should have the same rights and the same price.
01:18Although Notre Dame is a public building, the local diocese voiced their opposition
01:22to an entrance fee.
01:23They said it went against religious principles of free practice and unconditional welcome.
01:29Before the fire, the Gothic building and its artefacts attracted almost 18 million visitors
01:34a year.

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