This Gothic masterpiece, built by Louis IX (1214– 70)
as a shrine for his holy relics of the passion and completed in 1248,
is considered the most beautiful church in Paris, not least for its 15
stained-glass windows soaring 15 m (50 ft) to a star-covered vaulted
roof. The church was damaged during the Revolution but restored in the
mid-19th century.
6 blvd du Palais, 75001 01 53 40 60 97 Open Mar–Oct: 9:30am–6pm; Nov–Feb: 9am–5pm; closed 1 Jan, 1 May, 25 Dec Admission €8 (free 1st Sun of month Nov–Mar); €11 joint adm to Conciergerie. Temporary exhibitions are €1.50 extra. Ticket sales stop 30 mins before closing. Restricted disabled access
http://sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr
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The devout 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. He subsequently acquired 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 now reside in
Notre-Dame.
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Sainte-Chapelle façade
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For a little 1920s-style elegance, try Brasserie des Deux Palais on the corner of boulevard du Palais and rue de Lutèce.
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A pair of binoculars comes in handy if you want to see the uppermost glass panels.
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Top 10 FeaturesUpper Chapel Entrance As
you emerge, via a spiral staircase, into this airy space, the effect of
light and colour is breathtaking. The 13th-century stained-glass
windows, the oldest extant in Paris, separated by stone columns, depict
Biblical scenes from Genesis
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.
Rose Window The
Flamboyant-style rose window, depicting St John’s vision of the
Apocalypse in 86 panels, was replaced by Charles VIII in 1485. The green
and yellow hues are at their brightest at sunset.
Window of Christ’s Passion Located above the apse, this stained-glass depiction of the Crucifixion is the chapel’s most beautiful window.
Apostle Statues Beautifully
carved medieval statues of 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.
Window of the Relics Another
striking window, this tells the story of St Helena and the True Cross
and of St Louis bringing his many relics to Sainte-Chapelle.
The Spire The open latticework and pencil-thin shape give the 75-m (245-ft) flèche (spire) a delicate appearance. Three earlier church spires burned down – this one was erected in 1853.
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. St Louis’ Oratory In
the late 14th century Louis XI added an oratory where he could attend
Mass unobserved, watching through a small grille in the wall. The chapel
originally adjoined the Conciergerie, the former royal palace on the Ile de la Cité. 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.
Evening Concerts Sainte-Chapelle has excellent acoustics. From March to November classical concerts are held here several evenings a week.
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