Visiting the Sainte Chapelle

• Two sanctuaries built one on top of the other (1242-1248). The 15 stained glass windows in the upper chapel, two-thirds of which are original, depict 1,113 scenes from the Old Testament and the Passion of Christ. The lower chapel is decorated with an Annunciation, the oldest wall painting in Paris. 

• At the heart of Paris’ monuments. The relics of the Sainte Chapelle are now housed in the Treasure House of the nearby Cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris. After visiting the Chapel on the banks of the river, why not go to the adjacent Conciergerie, the oldest remaining part of the first palace of the Kings of France.

Understanding the Sainte Chapelle

• Religious and political influence. The building was constructed by Saint Louis to house the relics of the Passion of Christ, and hence make Paris the second capital of Christianity. The Sainte Chapelle was a symbol of the divine right of kings, and suffered extensive damage during the Revolution. Work was carried out in the 19th century to restore the polychromy and sculpted decoration. 

• A reference for French architecture. Up until the 16th century, ten buildings based on the Sainte Chapelle were built in France by kings and princes of the royal blood, to affirm their descent from Saint Louis and thus augment their prestige. Six still remain, including Vincennes and Châteaudun.