A Week in Paris - Sainte Chapelle

The city of lights it home to so many churches its hard to keep track. Everyone knows Notre Dame. Just a ten minute walk away is a chapel that in no uncertain terms is more spectacular.

Serving as the home for Louis IX’s relics, Sainte Chapelle is the oldest surviving part of the Palais de la Cite, the royal palace during the 13th Century. Even though it was damaged in the French Revolution, its the best example of period stained glass existing today. The French Government has been undertaking a renovation to place modern glass windows outside the stained glass to protect it. Throughout this process, they have taken every measure to maintain the visitor’s experience inside the chapel - covering the scaffolding inside with mirror as to not degrade the view of the space.

There really is nothing like the experience inside this chapel. If you can, book your visit for a sunny day. Its just different with the sun beating through the stained glass windows.

Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled time. You have to go through security screening since the chapel is within the Palace of Justice. After entering the ground level visitor’s area, you ascend a narrow spiral staircase up into the stained glass enclosed nave. The Rayonnant Gothic chapel reaches up to the sky from through what seems like a structure made entirely of stained glass.

This building should be on everyone’s must-see list in Paris. Get your tickets in advance - about a week was enough time for use to find a time based on the weather forecast. The summer tourist season might impact those lead times.