Vitraux de Notre-Dame : le combat continue !
The French government has authorized the removal and replacement of the 19th-century stained-glass windows designed by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in Notre-Dame Cathedral with new windows by contemporary artist Claire Tabouret. This decision, posted as a work permit on the cathedral, is being challenged in court by the heritage association Sites & Monuments, which argues the replacement is not a legitimate act of conservation or restoration.
The controversy represents a significant battle over the principles of heritage preservation versus contemporary artistic intervention. The planned replacement of historically protected windows that survived the 2019 fire has sparked a major public outcry, evidenced by a petition with over 335,000 signatures, making it a defining issue for France's cultural policy and the future of its national monuments.