Passavant le Meilleur. La Champagne au temps des comtes
An exhibition titled "Passavant le Meilleur. La Champagne au temps des comtes" is on view at the Cité du Vitrail in Troyes from May 5 to October 31, 2026. The show, curated by Didier Rykner, brings together historical documents and objects from the era of the Counts of Champagne, including significant artworks such as a stone statue of Isabelle de France, a reliquary of the Holy Sepulchre, a sculpture of Jeanne de Navarre, and illuminated manuscripts. Its major art-historical draw is the first-ever assembly of all eighteen surviving stained-glass fragments from the axial chapel of the cathedral, dating to the late 12th century.
This exhibition matters because it reunites rare medieval stained-glass pieces that were dispersed after the chapel's destruction, offering scholars and the public an unprecedented opportunity to study them together. The accompanying 574-page catalogue provides extensive essays and notes, underscoring the scholarly weight of the project. While primarily historical in scope, the show highlights the intersection of art, politics, and religion in medieval Champagne, making it a significant event for specialists in medieval art and stained glass.