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Sainte-Chapelle
Sainte Chapelle - Upper level 1.jpg
Sainte-Chapelle, upper level interior
Religion
Affiliation Catholic Church
Province Archdiocese of Paris
Region Île-de-France
Rite Roman Rite
Status Secularized since French Revolution
Location
State France
Architecture
Architectural type Parish church
Architectural style French gothic
Groundbreaking 1242 (1242)
Completed 1248 (1248)
Monument historique
Official name: Sainte-Chapelle
1862
PA00086259
Denomination Église

La Sainte-Chapelle (English: The Holy Chapel) is a Gothic chapel found on the Île de la Cité in the heart of Paris, France. This chapel is a perfect example of the rayonnante period of Gothic architecture. The chapel was designed by architect, Pierre de Montereau.

La Sainte-Chapelle was built in six years (1242-1248). It was consecrated in 1248. The building was designed to house the relics of the Passion, especially the Crown of Thorns. King Louis IX had acquired this Crown from Emperor Baudouin II in 1239. The possession of this relic put France in the forefront of Latin Christendom.

Other relics were brought from Byzantium over the next two years. These relics were kept in the Saint-Nicholas Chapel until a more appropriate place could be prepared. During the French Revolution, the choir stalls and the rood screen of Sainte Chapelle were destroyed. The spire was torn down and the relics sent elsewhere. Restoration of the chapel was undertaken in 1846. The chapel was returned to its former splendor with this restoration.

The stained glass windows of the chapel are its chief glory. They tell the story of humankind from the Creation to the Redemption of the world through Jesus Christ. These windows contain 6,458 sq. ft of glass. Two thirds of the glass are original. Each window is divided into lancets. These lancets must be read from left to right, working from the bottom up. They were restored in the 19th century.

Images for kids

  • Louis9+Relics

    Louis IX receives the crown of thorns and other sacred relics for the chapel (14th century illustration)

  • Les Très Riches Heures du duc de Berry juin

    Illustration in Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry (c. 1400)

  • Plan de Mérian 1615 Palais de la Cité

    Sainte-Chapelle and the Palais de la Cité in 1615

  • Pierre-Denis Martin 003

    Louis XV departs a ceremony at the Palace, with Sainte-Chapelle behind (1715)

  • La Ste. Chapelle, Paris LACMA M.84.160.2

    Sainte-Chapelle in 1839, before restoration

  • Auguste Mestral, Angel of the Passion, Sainte-Chapelle, Paris, 1852–53

    The sculptor Adolphe-Victor Geoffroy-Dechaume with his archangel of the Passion and the head of another sculpture (1847)

  • Intérieur de la Sainte-Chapelle - F. Duban - RF 1905

    A watercolour painting by Félix Duban used to guide the restorers (1847)

  • La Sainte Chapelle tijdens de restauratie Paris. - La Sainte-Chapelle. XIIIe Siècle (titel op object), RP-F-F16404

    The chapel undergoing restoration (1841–67)

  • The Holy Chapel (i.e., Sainte-Chappelle), interior of lower chapel, Paris, France-LCCN2001698537

    The lower chapel in 1900-1905

  • The Holy Chapel, interior, Paris, France, ca. 1890-1900

    Upper chapel, 1890-1900

  • Paris Sainte Chapelle East View 02

    The church from the east

  • Paris Sainte-Chapelle 8

    The south side. The upper walls are strengthened by buttresses and iron bars, allowing larger windows

  • Sainte-Chapelle extérieur10

    Louis IX holding a fragment of the true cross

  • Paris IMG 7720 (42312132294)

    South facade

  • Sainte-Chapelle de Paris vue du Palais de justice

    The west front with rose window

  • Paris Sainte-Chapelle Rosette 1

    Detail of the flamboyant rose window

  • Sainte-Chapelle extérieur09

    Portal of the lower chapel

  • Paris Sainte-Chapelle Portal 2

    Portal of the upper chapel

  • Paris Sainte-Chapelle Giebel

    Gable of the west front

  • Sainte-Chapelle de Paris - Manuscrit français 9152

    The Spire in the 16th century

  • Clocher de la Sainte-Chapelle

    19th century spire

  • Flèche de la Sainte-Chapelle, Paris (36820426973)

    Detail of the spire

  • Paris (75), Sainte-Chapelle, plan

    Plan of the lower chapel (left) and upper chapel (right)

  • Statue of Saint-Louis @ Chapelle Basse @ Sainte-Chapelle @ Paris (29950007012)

    Lower chapel, with statue of Louis IX

  • Ste Chapelle Basse s

    Ceiling of the lower chapel. Small gilded flying buttresses reinforce the arches

  • SteChapelle unten Chor

    The lower chapel, with the Fleur-de-Lys of Louis IX and the castle of Blanche of Castile decorating the columns

  • Sainte Chapelle Interior Stained Glass

    The apse of the upper chapel

  • Sainte Chapelle - Chasse

    The Chasse, which held the sacred relics

  • Chapelle Haute @ Sainte-Chapelle @ Paris (30029150036)

    The upper chapel to the west, with the later flamboyant rose window

  • Vitraux de la Saint-Chapelle Paris

    South wall, looking east to the apse

  • Paris (75), Sainte-Chapelle, chapelle haute, abside, voûte 1

    Vaults of the apse

  • PA00086001 - Sainte-Chapelle - 7MC 3458+3461 - HDR

    Vaults of the upper chapel

  • Est Sainte-Chapelle Passion du Christ Abside

    Scenes from Passion of Christ (apse) (click 2X for full-size)

  • Sainte Chapelle - Details Vitrail Mur Sud

    Scenes from life of Ezekiel (south wall)

  • PA00085991 - Sainte Chapelle (vitraux et chandelier)

    Scenes from Ezekiel and Job (south wall, bay 4)

  • Sud Baie 14 Détail Saint Louis

    Saint Louis transports relics of the true cross (south wall, bay 14)

  • Sainte-Chapelle - God creates plants and trees

    Genesis - God creates plants and trees (south wall, bay 9 - restored)

  • Rose window of Sainte-Chapelle (Paris) - Vision of 7 candlesticks

    Centerpiece- vision of the seven candlesticks

  • Rose window of Sainte-Chapelle (Paris) - Adoration of the beast

    Adoration of the beast

  • Sainte Chapelle - Rosace

    The chapel's flamboyant west rose window (click 2X to enlarge)

  • Rose window of Sainte-Chapelle (Paris) - 1st Horseman

    First horseman of the Apocalypse

  • Rose window of Sainte-Chapelle (Paris) - Souls under altar

    Detail of rose window; souls under the altar

  • Baptism Sainte-Chapelle MNMA Cl23717

    Detail of a stained-glass window depicting a baptism (late 12th century) (Musée de Cluny)

  • David Saul Sainte-Chapelle MNMA ClDS1891

    King Saul and David (late 12th century) (Musée de Cluny)

  • MNMA, daniel in front of Nabuchodonosor

    Daniel and Dream of Nebuchadnezzar (late 12th century) (Musée de Cluny)

  • Wikimania 2014 - Victoria and Albert Museum - Stained Glass - Saint Chapelle- Old Testament Scenes-Bottom221011

    Scene from Book of Ezekiel (mid 12th century) (Victoria and Albert Museum)

  • París Sainte Chapelle 05

    Detail of the portal of the upper chapel; Christ and the Last Judgement by Geoffroy-Dechaume

  • Relief Creation of Eve-Sainte-Chapelle-Paris

    The creation of Eve from Adam's rib (portal of upper chapel)

  • Relief of Noah's Ark-Sainte-Chapelle-Paris-2

    Relief sculpture of Noah's ark and the flood (portal of upper chapel)

  • Nord Sainte Chapelle Ange

    Carved angel on the alcove of the King, north wall

  • Interior of Sainte-Chapelle (Paris) 19

    Carved angels holding crown of thorns in the apse (13th century)

  • Paris-Sainte Chapelle - 26

    Sculpture above the alcove of the King, upper chapel (13th c.)

  • Paris-Sainte Chapelle - 25

    Sculpture above the alcove of the Queen, upper chapel (13th c.)

  • Paris-Sainte Chapelle - 15

    One of the Apostles

  • SaintLouisSainteChapelle

    Statue of Louis IX

  • Sainte Chapelle - Detail Sculpture Mur Nord

    Sculpture on north wall of upper chapel

  • Statue at the Sainte-Chapelle (3561584171)

    One of the Apostles, north wall

  • St John Sainte Chapelle MNMA Cl18666

    St. John, undecorated (now in the Museum of the Middle Ages Hotel de Cluny)

  • Interior of Sainte-Chapelle (Paris) 25

    An Apostle, north wall

  • Paris (75), Sainte-Chapelle, chapelle basse, chapiteaux au revers de la façade

    Lower chapel, column capital on reverse of west front

  • Paris Sainte-Chapelle Innen Oberkirche Westwand 3

    Interior of the west facade; Christ with Angels, Sts. Isaiah and Jeremiah in the quadilobes (painting by Steinheil, 1856)

  • Paris-Sainte Chapelle - 02

    Wall decoration, with the castle of the Kingdom of Castile

  • Sainte-Chapelle haute27

    Quadrilobe painting of martyrdom of an Apostle, upper chapel (19th c. restitution of 13th c. decor)

  • Livre des faiz monseigneur saint Loys - BNF Fr2829 f17r (Saint Louis et la couronne d'épine) detail 02

    Louis IX places the crown of thorns at Sainte-Chapelle (illuminated manuscript from 1480s)

  • Paris (75), Sainte-Chapelle, grande châsse en 1790

    The Grande Châsse, or reliquary, in 1790

  • Couronne d'epines - Crown of Thorns Notre Dame Paris

    Crown of Thorns in gilded crystal case (Notre-Dame de Paris, now in Louvre)

  • Paris, France. CATEDRALA NOTRE-DAME (Trezoreria) (Bustul lui Saint Louis)(PA00086250)

    Reliquary bust of Louis IX (Notre-Dame de Paris)

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