Near the entrance to Notre Dame des Marais, on the south nave aisle you will find three 16th century-stained glass windows to be read from left to right towards the choir chapels. These windows relate to three stations in Jesus’ Passion: the arrest of Jesus, the trial before Pilate and Jesus being made to carry the cross.

 

In the first window Judas holds the reward for his betrayal in his left hand, while kissing Jesus on the cheek. Peter strikes an armed man kneeling on the ground.

 

In the second window Jesus is brought before Pilate, who asks the Jews whom he should free, Jesus or Barrabas.

 

On both windows you can admire the subtlety of the details on Pilate’s cloak and on the soldiers’ leggings and breastplates.

 

The third window depicts Jesus bearing the cross, with Veronica showing her veil with which she wiped Jesus’ face. This window is a reconstruction of an older one, a few parts of which can be found in the north windows of the nave.

 

 In the 19th century Léopold Charles, a historian from La Ferté-Bernard, began the first restoration of the windows, turning the town into one of the major locations for the renewal of stained-glass manufacturing in France.