Sainte-Chapelle

Tucked within the Palace of Justice complex, this masterpiece reveals nothing of its splendour from the street. It must be said that the Sainte-Chapelle was never intended to be open to the public.

King Louis IX (later canonized Saint-Louis) ordered the construction of
the chapel in the 13th century to shelter his holy relics (the crown of thorns and a fragment of Christ’s cross), now conserved in the Notre Dame Cathedral. This precious reliquary, along with the Conciergerie, are the last remaining vestiges of the Palais de la Cité, the first royal palace, where French kings lived until the 14th century.

Play of light

The Sainte-Chapelle’s lower chapel, through which you enter on the ground floor, is reminiscent of a crypt, and includes 140 capitals ornately decorated with floral motifs characteristic of the early 13th century. A small stairway leads to an upper chapel, which once held the relics and was connected to the king’s chambers.

Ever since its completion in 1248, this vessel of polychrome light has mesmerised visitors. Almost entirely composed of 15-meter-high stained glass windowpanes, separated only by delicate colonnettes supporting rib vaults, this architectural wonder is dazzling to behold. It is one of the most complete and remarkable examples of stained glass craftsmanship from the French Gothic period.

Tip: plan your visit for a sunny day, to take full advantage of the colourful light shimmering through all 600 m2 of stained glass. And music lovers can attend a classical music concert held inside the chapel. Magic!

Your visit of Paris continues with the monuments of the city