The Sainte-Chapelle is located within the Palais de Justice on the Île de la Cité in Paris, a magnificent Gothic structure. It was built by King Louis IX (Louis the Saint), a pious Catholic monarch canonized for his faith, to house relics he acquired from Constantinople, including the Crown of Thorns and fragments of the True Cross. Designed by the architect Pierre de Montreuil, the slender, two-tiered church was completed in just 33 months starting in 1248. Legend has it that the value of these relics was three times the cost of constructing the chapel itself.
The lower chapel, once used by attendants and servants, measures 17 meters long and 7 meters high. Its base features intricately carved pillar bases supporting an imaginative blue ceiling, while the walls are lined with charming stained-glass windows topped by gable peaks.
Ascending a narrow staircase beneath a deep blue canopy leads to the upper chapel, reserved for the king and royalty. Measuring 17 meters long and 20.5 meters high, it resembles a glittering jewelry box. Immediately striking are fifteen massive stained-glass windows, each 15 meters tall, casting mesmerizing light that evokes heaven. These windows depict all stories from the Old and New Testaments, comprising 1,134 narrative scenes, covering a total area of 618 square meters, alongside a perfectly crafted circular rose window, creating a dazzling visual experience.
Identity of the Sainte-Chapelle:
Another Gothic masterpiece in Paris.
Lower Chapel – Length: 17 meters; Height: 7 meters.
Upper Chapel – Length: 17 meters; Height: 20.5 meters.
Fifteen large stained-glass windows.
One circular rose window.
