SAINTE-CHAPELLE

Description

Essentials about the Sainte-Chapelle in brief

The Sainte-Chapelle (“Holy Chapel”) is one of the most beautiful testimonies of High Gothic architecture in Paris and is not only recommended to churchgoers for a visit. Created in the mid-13th century, the building is the former palace chapel of the former royal residence Palais de la Cité on the Île de la Cité. Of the Palais de la Cité, only the Conciergerie and the Palais de Justice remain today, in addition to the Sainte-Chapelle.

The history and architecture of the Sainte-Chapelle

The chapel was built by order of King Louis IX to give precious Passion relics a worthy place to be kept in Paris. Louis IX had bought the alleged crown of thorns of Christ, parts of the “True Cross”, and the tip of the lance with which Jesus was pierced from the Latin Emperor Balduin II in 1237 for an astronomically high sum.

The Sainte-Chapelle is a two-story palace chapel with a low lower chapel and a high upper chapel. This was the repository of the relics and used to remain closed to the common people. The highlight of the upper chapel is the precious stained glass windows that flood the high room with a magical, almost otherworldly light. Incidentally, two-thirds of the window areas are still preserved as originals from the 13th century. In addition to the beautiful windows, it is the colorful painting of the two chapels that makes them so special.

After a fire in 1630, the Sainte-Chapelle was restored. After it had been severely damaged during the French Revolution, even a large part of the relics were largely destroyed by revolutionaries in 1793, a sign hung on it for years with the text “National Property for Sale”. In 1790 it was to be demolished, which was prevented, and under the civil king Louis Philippe the building was later renovated.