The Sainte-Chapelle and its 1113 stained-glass windows, a true Gothic jewel in Paris

Located just a few meters from Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Sainte-Chapelle is perhaps the most enchanting historical monument in Paris. Tucked away in the heart of the Palais de la Cité, between the Palais de Justice and the Conciergerie, this one-of-a-kind Gothic masterpiece is a magnificent sight to behold, whenever a ray of sunlight filters through the colorful stained-glass windows.

Built in seven years, between 1241 and 1248, the Sainte-Chapelle was intended to house the Crown of Thorns and other Passion relics, purchased by Louis IX in 1239. To preserve these treasures of Christianity, the Church created a building 33 meters long and 42.5 meters high, with 15-meter windows adorned with 1113 sublime stained-glass windows to let in light from all sides of the monument. These holy relics almost all disappeared during the French Revolution, with the exception of the Crown and the piece of the Cross, usually kept in the treasury of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

These 13th-century stained glass windows feature scenes from theOld and New Testaments, recounting the history of mankind from Genesis to Christ's resurrection. The large western rose at the top of the monument tells of future times and the Apocalypse. The stained glass windows, in shades of blue and yellow, date from the 15th century, explaining the difference in color with the rest of the glass, which was more purplish at the time.

Divided into two parts, the monument boasts two chapels. The lower chapel features a statue of the Virgin Mary, patron saint of the sanctuary, as well as decorations restored in the 19th century and a 13th-century fresco depicting the Annunciation, considered to be the oldest mural in Paris. Accessible to palace servants in the Middle Ages, it served as the base for the upper chapel reserved for the sovereign. The latter contains the richly decorated reliquary, and the famous stained-glass windows, which give the building all its magic. When the weather is fine, the colors of the stained glass reflect off the floor and lend the interior of the monument a mystical aura.

• To be read
• Tips for the week of December 23 - 29, 2024 in Paris: free or cheap outings
• Free museums and monuments this Sunday: places to visit in Paris on January 5, 2025
• Free Museums and Monuments to visit in Paris and the Ile-de-France region, good ideas for outings

While the monument is primarily religious, it is also a standard-bearer of France's prestige in medieval Europe. To learn more, continue your visit to the Conciergerie, the last vestige, along with the Sainte-Chapelle, of the former Palais de la Cité, a veritable wellspring of history.

La Sainte-Chapelle is open daily from 9am to 5pm from October to March, and from 9am to 7pm the rest of the year. To visit the museum at your leisure, book your tickets in advance: the full price is 11.50 euros, while under-26s are admitted free of charge. Visits are free on the first Sunday of January, February, March, November and December. You can also visit the Conciergerie next door with a twin ticket at 18.50 euros.

To get there, take metro line 4 (Cité or Saint-Michel) or RER lines B and C ( Saint-Michel station). Please note that the Sainte-Chapelle is located within the perimeter of the Palais de Justice de Paris, so security checks are reinforced at the entrance to the monument.

Contes et Histoires 2024: discover the secrets of the Sainte-Chapelle
In Paris, the Christmas vacations are synonymous with discoveries: on December 21 and 29, 2024, the Sainte-Chapelle invites us to take part in the new edition of Contes et Histoires. On the program: unusual and fascinating visits! [Read more]