Sainte-Chapelle was built by the crusader King, Louis IX, to house the relics of Christ's Passion that he had purchased, at great cost, from Baldwin II of Constantinople. Having paid a small fortune for the relics, the King spent a mere third of their cost, to erect this magnificent chapel in which to display them.
The Palace chapel, the palace having long since disappeared, took a mere six years to erect. The work began in 1242 and the completed building was consecrated on 26 April, 1248.
The bi-level chapel has two levels. The lower level served as the palace parish and was for the use of the palace's staff, which explains its more humble design. The upper level, which contained the prescious reliquary, and its even more precious contents - Christ's Crown of Thorns, and a piece of the True Cross - was for the King and his courtiers.
The ornately decorated reliquary is now empty as the relics of Christ's Passion disappeared during the French revolution. The 'Crown of Thorns' was later recovered, but is now kept at the Notre-Dame treasury and is only displayed at Easter and the first Friday of each month.
Recognised as one of the great masterpieces of the 'Rayonnante' (radiant) style of French Gothic architecture, the chapel's dazzling display of colours - reflected through the 50ft high stained glass windows - make it easy to see why it is nicknamed the 'jewel box.'
The 15 stained glass windows, covering an area of 612 square metres (6,588 square feet.), depict 1,134 scenes from the creation of the world, to the final judgement. The rose window, which depicts the Apocalpse was added in the 15th century.
Prices
Admission: 7.50 Euro
Opening Times
1 Mar - 31 Oct: 9:30am to 6pm
1 Nov - 28 Feb: 9am to 5pm
Closed: 1 Jan, 1 May and 25 Dec.
Address
Sainte-Chapelle
4 boulevard du Palais
75001 Paris
Tel: 01 53 40 60 80
How to Get There
Métro: Cite - line 4
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