Heritage Under Attack, Macron's “Vanity Project” Will Defile The Notre Dame Cathedral

Macron’s vile attack on history has faced significant backlash and criticism 

In 2019, after the devastating fire that destroyed the roof and spire of Notre-Dame, President Macron committed to rebuilding the cathedral with a “contemporary gesture” intended to reflect our current era. Among his controversial plans was the replacement of six of the seven 19th-century grisaille stained-glass windows in the south nave chapels.

These historic windows, designed in the Gothic style by architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc during his 19th-century restoration of the cathedral, were undamaged by the fire. They have been cleaned, restored, and classified as historic monuments, making their replacement particularly contentious.

Macron’s vile attack on history has faced significant backlash and criticism from heritage experts and the public, who rightfully argue that this is a "vanity project" and a "cultural desecration".

Critics, including France's oldest national heritage organization, argue that this action violates international cultural heritage guidelines, specifically the 1964 Venice Charter, which states that original integral parts of a monument should only be removed when necessary for preservation.

In fact, France's National Commission for Heritage and Architecture (CNPA) unanimously voted against the project in July 2024, a decision the government has chosen to ignore.

A petition launched by La Tribune de l’Art opposing the change states:

“The president of the republic has decided on his own, without any regard for the heritage law or Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, to replace the stained-glass windows. How can it be justified to restore stained glass windows that survived the disaster and then immediately remove them? Who gave the head of state a mandate to alter a cathedral that does not belong to him, but to everyone?”

“Contemporary stained-glass windows have their place in ancient architecture when the original ones have disappeared. They are not intended to replace works that already exist.”

Macron’s self-indulgence will do nothing but cheapen a historic Catholic landmark

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen and one of the previously shortlisted artists agrees that this is an "opportunistic and self-aggrandizing" vanity project for the President.

The online petition has garnered more than 325,000 signatures against the replacements.

French artist Claire Tabouret has been chosen to create the new contemporary windows. Her designs, recently unveiled in an exhibition, feature bold primary colors and subtle references to Eugène Viollet-le-Duc's original designs.

She focuses on figurative subject matter, employing loose, expressive brushstrokes with a wide range of colors that mimic both artificial and natural hues. In contrast to the intricate details of the current windows, the new designs seem overly bright and gaudy, featuring vibrant colors and abstract figures that depict the Descent of the Holy Spirit.

Despite the outcry to retain the original windows, the new ones are expected to be fabricated and installed next year. Macron’s self-indulgence will do nothing but cheapen a historic Catholic landmark.

This is a clear example of a liberal leader disregarding the will of the people and ignoring the advice of France's National Commission for Heritage and Architecture. No one wants to see another Christian landmark defaced, especially for selfish and unnecessary reasons. Liberals who label conservatives as fascists should take a long, hard look at what Macron is doing without justification.