According to the Minister of Culture, 20% of the 45,000 historic monuments in France are in «bad condition» and 5% of them are even «in danger» et «are likely to disappear».
Budget extension of 300 million euros for heritage, plan on freedom of creation: Rachida Dati defended her 2025 budget on Tuesday before the Senate Culture Committee, also renewing her controversial proposal to charge entry to Notre-Dame Lady of Paris. The Minister of Culture first took advantage of this hearing to announce the tabling of a government amendment proposing an additional 300 million euros for heritage, supposed to be discussed on November 13 before this same committee.
“In an exceptional situation, an exceptional response”justified Rachida Dati, evoking the state “alarming” heritage. According to her, 20% of the 45,000 historic monuments in France are in “bad condition” and 5% of them (2,000) are even “in danger” et “at risk of disappearing”. If the amendment were adopted by Parliament, this sum would be added to the 1.2 billion euros that heritage represents in a Culture budget of 4.45 billion euros provided for in the finance bill. “Very concretely, this amendment will allow an additional effort of 55 million euros for historic monuments in the regions”continued the minister. His ministry specified that this aid would benefit, for example, the Saint-Nicolas tower in La Rochelle, which threatens to collapse.
“Special attention” for Versailles and the Center Pompidou
According to Ms. Dati, the amendment will also unblock “an envelope of 23 million euros for museums in the territories, with specific attention to small museums in rural areas”. Finally, “it will allow other facilities in the regions, such as archaeological conservation and study centers”she added. According to her, “special attention” will be worn “for the most pressing needs of our large establishments”: Center Pompidou in Paris, Palace and estate of Versailles, Fontainebleau and Chambord.
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The minister also reiterated her desire to put in place a “tariffing of the entrance to Notre-Dame-de-Paris, which could release 75 million euros to finance the restoration of religious heritage in the regions”without specifying whether she envisaged this measure as permanent or temporary. She specified that, “if the diocese (of Paris, Editor’s note) agrees”this paid entry could be collected by the Center of National Monuments to be redistributed to the diocese and the territories, “without touching the law of 1905” of separation of Church and State. At the end of October, the diocese insisted on the principle of “free entry into churches and cathedrals”defended by the Catholic Church in France, while Notre-Dame de Paris is among the most visited buildings in Europe, with 12 million people in 2017 and “14 to 15 million” expected after its reopening scheduled for December 7.
Rachida Dati also once again proposed “differentiated prices for large operators (museums and tourist sites, editor’s note) receiving more than 60% of foreign audiences”. She also announced that she wanted to make more concrete the use of the money collected by the subscription launched by Emmanuel Macron in 2023 to help small towns preserve their religious buildings in danger, which aims to raise 200 million euros in four years. By the end of the month, “a plan that will concern creative freedom” will also be presented, while several actors in the performing arts have expressed concern in recent weeks about seeing plays not finding a presenter during tours, due to subjects allegedly being too sensitive or controversial. Another announcement: the resumption of a mission on the “economic model of live performance” and the sustainability of its financing, without further details at this stage.
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