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The major tourist attraction that could soon collapse

One of Europe’s most famous tourist attractions is crumbling.

Tourists are being warned Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is in desperate need of major repairs, and might not be standing for much longer.

The grand gothic cathedral, the heart of the French Catholic Church is nearly 1000-years-old.

“She [the cathedral] is an old lady,” Monsignor Patrick Chauvet, Dean of Notre Dame de Paris said.

“She’s 855 years old, and from time to time you need to have a facelift so that everything remains beautiful.”

Paris' iconic Notre Dame cathedral is crumbling
The Notre Dame is crumbling. Source: Getty

From a part of the cathedral that tourists and worshippers cannot access, Michel Picaud, from the Friends Notre Dame de Paris, spoke of the damage.

“This has all fallen down, so this is part of the stones of the cathedral, and each time we have heavy rains or snow last winter, we have part of the cathedral falling down,” he said.

Notre Dame has been crumbling for decades, as the sandstone decays and some of the cathedral’s famous gargoyles have dropped off.

The spires keep falling down and are left to rest on the roof. The spectacular flying buttresses that hold the Cathedral together are just hanging on.

“The flying buttresses, they are part of the structure of the cathedral, if we had no flying buttress, the walls would collapse,” Mr Picaud said.

The Notre Dame (pictured) is seeking donations for restoration work
The Notre Dame (pictured) is seeking donations for restoration work. Source: 7News

One railing has even been replaced with a wooden substitute.

“This railing has been completely replaced by a wooden one,” Mr Picaud said.

“It’s degrading permanently, so this is why this restoration project is very important because otherwise it would continue to degrade progressively.”

It will cost nearly $100 million to keep the cathedral standing and another $150 million to restore it completely.

A third will be funded by the French government and the rest will come from fundraising.

“If we do not do it, there is a risk of the collapsing of the cathedral,” Mr Picaud.

The church makes no secret of the fact they are targeting wealthy Americans to fund this restoration, but it’s not just Catholics.

The French Government will provide the cathedral with some money for repairs. Source: 7News
The French Government will provide the cathedral with some money for repairs. Source: 7News

They are hoping people all over the world will see this as an opportunity to help save a landmark.

“I think everybody should look at keeping this building alive because this is really part of the world heritage,” Mr Picaud said.

About 13 million people visit every year for free, but demanding payment from visitors is apparently is not an option.

“How do we distinguish between a tourist and a pilgrim?” the Monsignor asks.

There will be no help from the Vatican so the French church is pleading for funds from the public.

“There is a risk that their children or grandchildren wouldn’t be able to see it in the future if we do nothing,” Mr Picaud said.