A cathedral window designed and crafted by Marc Chagall in 1963 has been damaged by vandals, reports the Telegraph.

The window, which depicts Adam and Eve, was smashed when intruders broke into the church over the weekend. The thieves, who stole only a few objects, left a hole measuring about 24 by 16 inches.

"They didn't take anything important, just souvenir medallions and brass crowns from statues," said Emmanuel Etienne, of the culture ministry in Metz. "What's more serious is the hole in the stained glass window."

Experts should be able to repair the damage using fragments recovered at the site, according to the ministry.

If caught, the perpetrators will be subject to prison terms of up to seven years and fines of up to £75,000 ($139,600), according to a new law protecting cultural treasures.