Editing Cathedral (section)

===Artworks, treasures and tourism===
Many cathedral buildings are very famous for their architecture and have local and national significance, both artistically and historically. Many are listed among the [[UNESCO World Heritage Sites]].

Many cathedrals, because of their large size and the fact that they often have towers, spires or domes, have until the 20th century, been the major landmarks in cities or in views across the countryside. With highrise building, civil action has been taken in some cases, such as [[Cologne Cathedral]] to prevent the vista of the cathedral from being spoiled.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stlouiscathedral.org/our-history |title=Our History |publisher=St Louis Cathedral |access-date=2018-09-19}}</ref>

Because many cathedrals took centuries to build and decorate, they constitute a major artistic investment for the city in which they stand. Not only may the building itself be architecturally significant, but the church often houses treasures such as stained glass, stone and wood statues, historic tombs, richly carved furniture and objects of both artistic and religious significance such as reliquaries. Moreover, the cathedral often plays a major role in telling the story of the town, through its plaques, inscriptions, tombs, stained glass and paintings.

For these reasons, tourists have travelled to cathedrals for hundreds of years. Many cathedrals cater for tourists by charging a fee to any visitors outside service times or requesting a donation or making a charge to take photos. Cathedrals that are particularly popular tourist venues sometimes provide guides, leaflets, souvenirs and cafes.