German Politician Calls for Weekly Free Entry Day at Cologne Cathedral

Jochen Ott, an opposition leader in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia, has proposed that Cologne Cathedral offer one free entry day per week for state residents. Ott, a member of the SPD party, suggested Saturdays for this free access.

In a letter to Cathedral Provost Guido Assmann, Ott argued that the cathedral is a shared cultural heritage for the region, which historically encompassed much of modern-day North Rhine-Westphalia. "Anyone living in NRW who wants to visit Cologne Cathedral is therefore not a tourist, but part of this common history," he stated.

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The Cologne Cathedral was for centuries not only the cathedral of the city of Cologne, but the spiritual center of the Electorate of Cologne – a territory that encompassed large parts of today's North Rhine-Westphalia. In this sense, the cathedral is a common cultural heritage of the people in our country. Anyone living in NRW who wants to visit Cologne Cathedral is therefore not a tourist, but part of this common history.

Ott also suggested the cathedral could serve as a "cooling zone" during hot summer periods, offering a low-threshold cultural meeting space. This proposal follows the recent introduction of a 12-euro entry fee for the cathedral, implemented to cover increased monument protection costs. The cathedral chapter previously announced that free access would still be available on specific holidays like January 6, May 1, and October 3.

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A day with free entry could simultaneously serve as a low-threshold cultural meeting space and, especially during hot summer periods, also create additional social added value as a 'cooling zone' for visitors to the city center.