The Cathedral of Saint Mary of the Assumption was built in the 15th century. Nestled on its 40-meter-high rocky promontory, this confrontation with the void is the result of gradual expansions that pushed the elevations to the tip of the rocky spur. The walls impressively cling to the limestone strata of the vertical drop.
After the Revolution, the church gradually fell into disrepair until its poor condition led to its closure in 1992. Listed as a historic monument in 1994, it only reopened its doors in 2013 under the leadership of the Association of Friends of the Church of the Medieval City. The cathedral has become a cultural venue where contemporary art exhibitions and concerts are held annually thanks to its exceptional acoustics.
The renovation of the façade, as well as the inauguration of Father Kim en Joong's stained-glass windows—major works of contemporary art financed by Swiss patron Léonard Gianadda in the fall of 2019—have restored some of the cathedral's former glory. But another challenge now threatens the entire building. The rock on which this masterpiece is founded is weakened; to ensure the cathedral's safety, strengthening it is an essential prerequisite for the other three phases of work.
The roof also requires special attention, and waterproofing work is necessary to prevent the accelerated deterioration of its interior decoration. It is therefore urgent to begin work to ensure the cathedral, an integral part of Vaisseau's identity, is safe.
The restoration of the cathedral is guided by its key heritage value, but with its 40,000 visitors each summer, it is also a major economic and tourism issue for the region. The work will allow the cultural activities and visits that have been taking place in this religious building since 2013 to continue.