Since Wednesday, December 10, French artist Claire Tabouret has been exhibiting life-sized models of the contemporary stained-glass windows for Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral at the Grand Palais. These new windows are set to replace those by Viollet-le-Duc by the end of 2026, a decision that has been met with persistent criticism for the past two years.
Controversial Replacement Project Moves Forward
The process, initiated by an announcement from President Emmanuel Macron in December 2023, has been heavily criticized by heritage defenders. The decision to replace the original stained-glass windows, created by Viollet-le-Duc between 1855 and 1865 and miraculously spared during the 2019 fire, continues to fuel widespread controversy. The current exhibition, titled “D’un seul souffle” (With a Single Breath), showcasing the models at the Grand Palais, has only served to reignite the debate. Many question why the historical elements must make way for contemporary art, especially given their survival of the devastating fire.
Artist’s Vision and Project Details
Claire Tabouret, who won the consultation launched by the Ministry of Culture in December 2024, has spent a year designing and developing these contemporary stained-glass windows. They are intended for installation in six chapels along the south aisle of the nave. The windows are currently being fabricated at the Reims workshop of master glassmaker Simon-Marq, a firm founded in 1640, with installation planned for late 2026.
Speaking about the project, which is estimated to cost 4 million euros and is funded by the State, Claire Tabouret remarked, “I have often been drawn to monumental works, the immersive aspect of large formats, but this is the largest work I have undertaken to date. It is also the first time I have had to compose with the rhythm of architecture in this way.” She added that the project brief specifically required the design to respect the harmony and white light of Notre-Dame. The theme of Pentecost, symbolizing unity and harmony among people, was proposed by the Archbishopric of Paris. “This series of six bays tells a story, and I wanted to be as close to the narrative as possible,” Tabouret explained, expressing her personal connection to the theme: “I was carried away by the beauty, the poetry of the theme of Pentecost, chosen by the Archbishop of Paris. This idea of harmony, of people managing to unite, to understand each other despite the diversity of their languages, this crazy hope, I wanted to participate in it. We live in such a divided, chaotic, terrifying world.”
Public Outcry and Legal Challenges
The decision to replace the 19th-century stained-glass windows, which survived the 2019 fire, was announced by Emmanuel Macron during his visit to the construction site on December 8, 2023, at the request of Archbishop Laurent Ulrich of Paris. Macron stated his desire for the windows to be changed “so that the mark of the 21st century can thus be borne.” In July 2024, the National Commission for Heritage and Architecture rejected the project, arguing that artistic creation should not sacrifice heritage elements of public interest. Visitors to the current exhibition have also voiced their criticisms upon viewing the models.
The controversy surrounding these new windows shows no signs of abating. A petition launched by La Tribune de l’Art has garnered over 300,000 signatures. Furthermore, the association Sites & Monuments filed an appeal with the administrative court of Paris to annul or terminate the public contract, although this appeal was rejected in late November. The association is considering further legal action, including challenging the work authorization request before the administrative court, before Viollet-le-Duc’s windows are removed in March 2026.
Source: https://www.cnews.fr/culture/2025-12-11/notre-dame-de-paris-la-polemique-autour-des-nouveaux-vitraux-exposes-au-grand?amp
