Sainte-Chapelle a jewel in the crown of Paris
The windows at one end of the second storey of Sainte-Chapelle
After Poor John managed to escape trying on some stunning men’s clothing in an over-the-top Parisienne shop, we found ourselves in the even more stunning Sainte-Chapelle, a medieval Gothic chapel on the Ile de la Cité in the heart of Paris.
Hailed as one of the greatest architectural masterpieces of the Western world, this chapel was commissioned in the 1240s by King Louis IX of France to house his collection of important Passion relics, including what was believed to be Christ’s Crown of Thorns and fragments of the True Cross.
The story goes that the king bought the relics from Baldwin II, the Emperor of Constantinople, for almost three times as much as it cost to build Sainte-Chapelle.
Sainte-Chapelle downstairs
While we didn’t see any of these pricey relics, we were gobsmacked by the interior decoration of this incredible building. People of the Middle Ages were too, and referred it as the ‘gateway to heaven’.
The ground floor is a somewhat sombre introduction to the chapel. It was set aside for use by servants and lower court officials. But climb the narrow spiral staircase and you come to the magnificent upper floor where the royal family and its courtiers worshipped.
One of the world’s largest collections of stained glass windows
Here is one of the largest collections of 13th century stained glass of anywhere in the world. There are 15 dazzling windows, separated by slender columns soaring almost 15 metres to a star-studded ceiling.
The windows portray more than 1000 Biblical scenes. Starting from the left, near the entrance, and going clockwise, you can trace the scriptures from Genesis through to the Crucifixion and the Apocalypse. There is also a large Rose window at one end of the room.
The building was badly damaged during the French Revolution and then used to store flour, but renovations have been ongoing since the 1900s.
The Sainte-Chapelle has been a national historic monument since 1862. Concerts of classic music are now held there regularly to take advantage of the building’s superb acoustics.
And if the mention of flour above has made you hungry, check out this Middle Eastern bread recipe on my cooking blog.
Base of column between windows
Rose window
Where to next? 
It is almost beyond belief. Modern craftsmen have a lot to aim for and I think they will never reach those heights.
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I think you’re right, although I have examples of some fine contemporary Australian woodwork that I’ll have to post when I get home.
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Wow! So amazing.
I love the stained glass.
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Me too.
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Stunning!
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It sure is.
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Lordy! We’ll be in Paris in a couple of weeks time, so gorgeous church this is now on the itinerary!
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Really worth the time. Buy a combo ticket that includes the Conciergerie (coming soon here).
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OH WOWEY ZOWEY!!!
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Sums it up rather well.
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Amazingly beautiful.
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It sure is.
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The photos are absolutely beautiful…to see this in person must be breathtaking!
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Aw thanks, but I had great stuff to work with. Really amazing to see in person.
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Absolutely awe struck by the pictures ! Wonderful bit of information too. Loved your post !
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Thanks so much.
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You’ve done a terrific job here describing and showing off this awesome church! I distinctly remember learning about it in Cultural Geography class at KSC however your photos are quite superior to those shown then And your descriptions quite susinct!
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Oh my goodness, thanks so much for the high praise.
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Amazing detail here. I think they’re probably the most elaborate stained glass windows I’ve seen in pics. Beautiful shots!
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The windows are really breathtaking. Now I wish I’d taken some close-ups.
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I never got here, a real shame. Love those windows!
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You’ll just have to go back. Paris is worth multiple visits.
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Oh wow how beautiful such artistry just love it…am now off to check out the bread 🙂
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The craftsmanship is truly extraordinary. The bread’s not bad either. 🙂
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Wow, I have not been there, its amazing
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One of my favorite places. If I remember correctly, the stained glass windows were removed and stored until WW II was over so they wouldn’t be damaged.
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