Sainte-Chapelle is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful monuments in Paris. Located on the grounds of the Palais de Justice, Sainte-Chapelle is one of Paris’ most precious gems and a true masterpiece of architecture. It is an absolute must see for first time visitors in Paris.

Sainte-Chapelle was built on the initiative of King Saint Louis to house the relics of the Passion of the Christ, including the crown of thorns, a piece of the True Cross and other relics of Jesus Christ. The acquisition of the relics costed more than the construction of the chapel itself. Those relics are now kept inside the Cathedral Notre Dame de Paris (the relics were moved to the City Hall after the devastating Notre Dame Cathedral fire in April 2019). 

The chapel was built in only 7 years (1241-1248). The Royal chapel was built inside the Royal palace (Palais de la Cité) and was used almost exclusively by the King. With the Conciergerie, Saint Chapelle is one of the last vestiges of the former Royal palace. 

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There are 2 different chapels superposed on each other inside Sainte-Chapelle: the “lower chapel” and the “upper chapel”. The visit begins with the lower chapel, which was reserved for the nobility and the King’s household. Then, you have to climb up to the upper chapel, which was reserved for the King and his family. The lower chapel is only 6.6m high, and the upper chapel is 20.5m high. 

What makes Sainte-Chapelle truly unique is its 15 stained glass windows, each 15 meters high, depicting 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments. There are no walls; Sainte-Chapelle is almost entirely made of stained glass! It is a true masterpiece of gothic architecture. And until today, we still don’t know who was the architect of Sainte-Chapelle. 

Our opinion

A little less popular than Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle is definitely as impressive as her neighbor. The chapel has one of the most intricate stained glasses in the world. The architecture, the colors and the lights are just exceptional. They say that standing inside the upper chapel is like being inside a jewel box; well, it definitely feels like it. The 360-degree stained glass windows are jaw-dropping. Sainte-Chapelle is, in our opinion, the true jewel of Paris. And to know that the Chapel was built in the 1240s is mind blowing. Sainte-Chapelle is an absolute must-see and shouldn’t be missed when visiting Paris!

Tips

• Be sure to go there on a sunny day when the lights are shining through the windows.
• Buy your ticket online in advance to avoid the queue (same price but you’ll get the priority entrance).
• If you plan to visit the Conciergerie, it is well worth it to combine your visit with Sainte-Chapelle. Begin your visit with the Conciergerie as most of the time, there is little or no queue to get in and you’ll get the fast access queue for Sainte Chapelle!

Where? 8, boulevard du Palais.

Access? La Cité station (Metro Line 4) or Saint-Michel – Notre-Dame station (RER B or C).

When? Open every day from 9am to 5pm (from April to September, open until 7pm).

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