The stained glass windows of two major monuments of French gothic architecture monitored in the framework of VIDRIO EU programme

In the framework of VIDRIO EU programme, two important monuments representative of gothic architecture were chosen in France to evaluate the efficiency of the protective glazing installed in the last years, in comparison with Cologne cathedral in Germany. These French monuments, the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris and Saint-Urbain basilica in Troyes hold major stained glass windows of the 13 t h century, in both cases original and installed just after the completion of the building itself. The stained glass windows were in a relatively bad state of conservation and a restoration plan was engaged to conserve them and to prevent future weathering by installing isothermal protective glazing systems. The present paper resumes the history of the churches and of their stained glass windows, their general state of conservation, and the restoration works already carried on before the beginning of VIDRIO project.