{"id":11317,"date":"2023-01-15T15:17:10","date_gmt":"2023-01-15T15:17:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/sainte-chapelle-paris\/"},"modified":"2024-05-14T13:56:35","modified_gmt":"2024-05-14T13:56:35","slug":"sainte-chapelle-paris","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ulysses.travel\/en\/sainte-chapelle-paris\/","title":{"rendered":"The Sainte-Chapelle in Paris"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Nestled on the \u00cele de la Cit\u00e9, in the heart of the 1st arrondissement of Paris, the Sainte-Chapelle – famous for its incomparable stained glass windows – is one of the most emblematic monuments in the French capital.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow the guide !<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u26a0\ufe0f The Sainte-Chapelle is a victim of its own success,<\/strong> and the line at the entrance can be frustratingly long, especially during peak season. To avoid wasting time, <\/strong>be sure to book your skip-the-line tickets<\/strong><\/a> in advance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83d\udca1 The Captain\u2019s tips<\/strong> \ud83d\udca1<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\ud83e\uddd0 Keen to delve into Paris’ rich history?<\/strong> Captain Ulysses suggests checking out this complimentary guided tour of the city<\/a><\/mark>. You decide how much to tip the guide!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udca4 Searching for the perfect stay in Paris?<\/strong> Take a peek at Captain’s picks for the best places to stay: Where to stay in Paris? Tips & Recommendations.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\ud83d\udc76 Planning a family adventure to Paris?<\/strong> Discover all of the Captain\u2019s top tips in the article: Exploring Paris with the Kids: Family-Friendly Activities<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A short history of the Sainte-Chapelle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Who was Saint-Louis?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

King of France from 1226 to 1270, Saint Louis (Louis IX during his lifetime) is, along with Louis XIV, one of the most emblematic monarchs in French history. Known for his unwavering faith and commitment to justice, he was canonized in 1297, thus becoming one of the most popular saints of the Catholic Church in France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A great builder, Saint Louis ordered the construction of many religious buildings, including the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. He is also known to have participated in the seventh and eighth crusades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The construction of the Sainte-Chapelle <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1238, Saint Louis bought the Holy Crown from the Emperor of Constantinople Baldwin II of Courtenay, who was forced to part with the precious relics acquired by his predecessor Baldwin VI of Hainaut in order to finance the defense of his Empire. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the years that followed, Saint Louis acquired several other very valuable relics of the Passion of Christ. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

To house his acquisitions, Saint-Louis decided to have a royal chapel built in the Palais de la Cit\u00e9, where he lived. This building was designed as a double chapel, with an upper and a lower chapel. It was not intended to welcome a large public, but was thought of as a place of worship reserved for the monarch and the staff of the castle. This is the reason why there is no external access to the upper chapel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The chapel also housed a college of canons. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Built in flamboyant Gothic style, the Sainte-Chapelle was erected in less than seven years – a positive tour de force for the time – and consecrated in 1248. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sainte-Chapelle<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The relics of the Sainte-Chapelle <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The relics of the Holy Chapel included several artefacts related to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, including the Holy Crown, a piece of the Holy Cross, the Holy Blood, the Sepulchre Stone, as well as pieces of the Holy Lance and the Holy Sponge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

These relics are no longer on display in the Sainte-Chapelle today. Transferred to Saint-Denis during the French Revolution, many disappeared under mysterious circumstances without leaving any trace. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Sainte-Chapelle since its construction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Over the centuries, the Sainte-Chapelle was restored several times, before being completely emptied, disused and partly destroyed during the French Revolution. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 19th<\/sup> century, the debate raged: should this medieval vestige be preserved or destroyed? Fortunately, the supporters of the restoration of the Sainte-Chapelle came out on top in the negotiations. The work lasted 27 years and the Sainte-Chapelle became a true model of restoration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, the Sainte-Chapelle is a very popular historical and tourist monument in Paris. It attracts thousands of visitors every year, who come to admire its architecture and discover its fascinating history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since 2008, new restoration campaigns are conducted by the architects of the Monuments Historiques. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Visiting the Sainte-Chapelle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Sainte-Chapelle is a remarkable example of French Gothic architecture. It is considered one of the most emblematic medieval buildings in the world. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organized on two floors (with two superimposed chapels: a lower chapel and an upper chapel), the Sainte-Chapelle follows a very simple plan, without aisles, transept or ambulatory. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the Sainte-Chapelle has a very modest surface, comparable to that of a village church, its height is on the contrary worthy of a gothic cathedral. The first floor served as a sacristy (an annex of a church where religious items are kept), while the upper chapel housed the holy relics in a large shrine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The richly decorated western fa\u00e7ade is worth a look. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Sainte-Chapelle<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The lower chapel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Avec ses airs de crypte, la chapelle basse est plus sombre et de dimension plus modeste que la chapelle haute. Elle n\u2019en demeure pas moins richement d\u00e9cor\u00e9e avec ses murs color\u00e9s (les sp\u00e9cialistes parlent de polychromie architecturale), ses ogives, ses colonnes et ses vitraux. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The lower chapel now houses the Sainte-Chapelle souvenir store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The upper chapel<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The upper chapel is undoubtedly the highlight of the show. Almost twice as high as it is wide, the upper chapel is decorated with flamboyant colors (another example of architectural polychromy) and wonderful stained glass windows dating from the 13th<\/sup> century. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tribune of the relics, which once housed the Holy Relics, is located in the middle of the apse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The walls are almost entirely pierced with windows: a positive architectural tour de force, especially considering that the Sainte-Chapelle was built more than 7 centuries ago. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The stained glass windows represent a total surface of nearly 615 square meters\/6,600 square feet! It represents a plethora of biblical scenes – including scenes from the Old Testament, the Apocalypse and the Creation – as well as historical scenes – including the story of Saint Louis receiving the relics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Access<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Opening hours<\/strong> <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Sainte-Chapelle is open from 9am to 5pm from October 1 to March 31 and from 9am to 7pm from April 1 to September 30 (the ticket office closes 40 minutes before the site closes). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting to the Sainte-Chapelle<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Sainte-Chapelle is located on the \u00cele de la Cit\u00e9, within the old Palais de la Cit\u00e9 (where the Conciergerie<\/a> is also located). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is easily accessible by public transport: <\/p>\n\n\n\n