SAINTE-CHAPELLE
This Gothic masterpiece is considered the most beautiful church in Paris, not least for its 15 stained-glass windows soaring 50 ft (15 m) to a star-covered vaulted ceiling. It was built by Louis IX (1214–70) as a shrine for his holy relics of the Passion and completed in 1248. The church was damaged during the 1789 Revolution but restored in the mid-19th century.
NEED TO KNOW
6 Blvd du Palais, 75001 • 01 53 40 60 97 • www.sainte-chapelle.fr/en • Open Apr–Sep: 9am–7pm; Oct–Mar: 9am–5pm (Opening hours can vary, check website for details) • Adm $11, reduced $9; under 18 and 18–25 (EU only) free. Audio guides $3. Joint adm to Conciergerie (2 Boulevard du Palais) $17, reduced $13.50; temp exhibits $2 extra; ticket sales stop 30 min before closing.
- To experience a little 1920s-style elegance, try Brasserie des Deux Palais on the corner of Boulevard du Palais and Rue de Lutèce.
- A pair of binoculars comes in handy if you want to catch a glimpse of the church’s uppermost glass panels.
1. Window of Christ’s Passion
Located above the apse, this stained-glass depiction of the Crucifixion is the most beautiful window in the chapel.
2. Lower Chapel
Intended for use by the king’s servants, and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, this chapel is not as light and lofty as the Upper Chapel but is still a magnificent sight.
Lower Chapel
3. Main Portal
Like the Upper Chapel, the main portal has two tiers. Its pinnacles are decorated with a crown of thorns as a symbol of the relics within.
4. Rose Window
The flamboyant rose window, depicting St. John’s vision of the Apocalypse in 86 panels, was a gift from Charles VIII in 1485. The green and yellow hues are brightest at sunset.
Rose Window
5. Upper Chapel Entrance
As you emerge, via a spiral staircase, into this airy space, the effect of light and color is utterly breathtaking. The 13th-century stained-glass windows, the oldest surviving in Paris, separated by stone columns, depict biblical scenes from Genesis right through to the Crucifixion. To “read” the windows, start in the lower left panel and follow each row left to right, from bottom to top.
Upper Chapel Entrance
6. The Spire
The open latticework and pencil-thin shape give the flèche (spire) a very delicate appearance. In fact, three earlier church spires burned down—this one was erected in 1853 and rises 245 ft (75 m) into the air.
7. St. Louis’ Oratory
In the late 14th century Louis XI added an oratory where he could watch Mass through a small grille in the wall. The chapel originally adjoined the Conciergerie, the former royal palace on the Ile de la Cité.
8. Evening Concerts
Sainte-Chapelle has excellent acoustics. From March until November, classical concerts are held here several evenings a week.
9. Seats of the Royal Family
During Mass, the royal family sat in niches located in the fourth bays on both sides of the chapel, away from the congregation.
10. Apostle Statues
Beautifully carved medieval statues of the 12 Apostles stand on pillars along the walls. Badly damaged in the Revolution, most have been restored: the bearded apostle, fifth on the left, is the only original statue.
Apostle Statues
RELICS OF THE PASSION
Louis IX, later St. Louis, was the only French king to be canonized. While on his first Crusade in 1239, he purchased the alleged Crown of Thorns from the Emperor of Constantinople, and subsequently other relics, including pieces of the True Cross, nails from the Crucifixion, and a few drops of Christ’s blood, paying almost three times more for them than for the construction of Sainte-Chapelle itself. The relics resided in Notre-Dame and were rescued from the destructive fire in 2019.
