French President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial decision to replace the stained-glass windows of Notre-Dame Cathedral with contemporary designs has sparked strong backlash. The windows in question were not original 12th-century pieces but were created by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc in the 19th century as part of a restoration project.
Despite experts from France’s National Commission for Heritage and Architecture rejecting the proposal to modernize the windows, the French Ministry of Culture has announced eight finalists to design new stained glass for six chapels in the cathedral’s nave. These artists will submit their designs by November 4, with a committee chaired by Bernard Blistène, former director of the Musée National d’Art Moderne, selecting the winning design. Macron and Archbishop of Paris Laurent Ulrich will announce the winner in time for the grand reopening of the cathedral in December, which has been closed since a devastating fire in 2019.
The finalists for the window designs include well-known artists such as Jean-Michel Alberola, Daniel Buren, Philippe Parreno, and others. The decision to replace the historic stained-glass windows has raised concerns among experts and historians, with some pointing out that it goes against the spirit of the 1964 Venice Charter, which emphasizes the preservation of all contributions to a monument.
In the face of criticism, finalist Pascal Convert withdrew his bid from the competition earlier this summer. The controversy surrounding Notre-Dame’s stained-glass windows is not the only headline-grabbing issue in Paris, as Mayor Anne Hidalgo recently announced plans to make the Olympic Rings on the Eiffel Tower a permanent addition.
Despite the opposition, Blistène remains optimistic about the new window designs, stating that “we will see if the public is won over once the winner is chosen.” The fate of Notre-Dame’s stained-glass windows remains uncertain, but the decision to move forward with contemporary designs has certainly sparked a debate about preserving the historical integrity of the iconic cathedral.
