Sainte-Chapelle

You are standing in Sainte-Chapelle, perhaps the most beautiful Gothic monument in Paris. Here, right in the middle of Île de la Cité, you sense the grandeur of the royal past. This chapel was built in 1248 by order of Louis IX to house his extraordinary collection of Christian relics.

From the outside, it may look modest, but once inside, you are amazed by the light pouring through the immense stained glass windows. The lower chapel, with its subdued atmosphere, was intended for the royal staff. Above you is the richly decorated upper chapel, reserved for the royal family, where sunlight plays through the colored glass.

During the French Revolution, the chapel was damaged, and many elements have been replaced or restored, but a large part of the stained glass is still original. Here, you literally walk among history and art, in a space that transports you to the era of kings and crusaders.