Paris court rejects suspension of Notre-Dame's contemporary stained-glass replacement

On May 19, 2026, the Paris administrative court dismissed requests from heritage associations Sites & Monuments and SOS Paris to suspend the removal of 19th-century stained-glass windows by Alfred Gérente (1821-1868) and their replacement with six contemporary windows designed by Claire Tabouret at Notre-Dame Cathedral. The associations had previously failed to annul the public contract on November 27, 2025, and sought an emergency suspension arguing serious doubts about the legality of the work authorization. The judge ruled that the urgency condition was not met because the new contemporary panels are the same format as the existing ones, designed to fit into the existing stone and metal framework, and the authorization requires the removed windows to be restored and publicly displayed, ensuring their preservation before a final judgment on the merits. The reversible nature of the operation negated any urgency. The legal battle continues as the court will later rule on the substance of the case, potentially setting precedent for contemporary interventions in heritage sites.