Sainte Chapelle Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Sainte-Chapelle
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

Louis IX receives the crown of thorns and other sacred relics for the chapel (14th century illustration)
Illustration in Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry (c. 1400)
Sainte-Chapelle and the Palais de la Cité in 1615
Louis XV departs a ceremony at the Palace, with Sainte-Chapelle behind (1715)
Sainte-Chapelle in 1839, before restoration
The sculptor Adolphe-Victor Geoffroy-Dechaume with his archangel of the Passion and the head of another sculpture (1847)
A watercolour painting by Félix Duban used to guide the restorers (1847)
The chapel undergoing restoration (1841–67)
The lower chapel in 1900-1905
Upper chapel, 1890-1900
The church from the east
The south side. The upper walls are strengthened by buttresses and iron bars, allowing larger windows
Louis IX holding a fragment of the true cross
South facade
The west front with rose window
Detail of the flamboyant rose window
Portal of the lower chapel
Portal of the upper chapel
Gable of the west front
The Spire in the 16th century
19th century spire
Detail of the spire
Plan of the lower chapel (left) and upper chapel (right)
Lower chapel, with statue of Louis IX
Ceiling of the lower chapel. Small gilded flying buttresses reinforce the arches
The lower chapel, with the Fleur-de-Lys of Louis IX and the castle of Blanche of Castile decorating the columns
The apse of the upper chapel
The Chasse, which held the sacred relics
The upper chapel to the west, with the later flamboyant rose window
South wall, looking east to the apse
Vaults of the apse
Vaults of the upper chapel
Scenes from Passion of Christ (apse) (click 2X for full-size)
Scenes from life of Ezekiel (south wall)
Scenes from Ezekiel and Job (south wall, bay 4)
Saint Louis transports relics of the true cross (south wall, bay 14)
Genesis - God creates plants and trees (south wall, bay 9 - restored)
Centerpiece- vision of the seven candlesticks
Adoration of the beast
The chapel's flamboyant west rose window (click 2X to enlarge)
First horseman of the Apocalypse
Detail of rose window; souls under the altar
Detail of a stained-glass window depicting a baptism (late 12th century) (Musée de Cluny)
King Saul and David (late 12th century) (Musée de Cluny)
Daniel and Dream of Nebuchadnezzar (late 12th century) (Musée de Cluny)
Scene from Book of Ezekiel (mid 12th century) (Victoria and Albert Museum)
Detail of the portal of the upper chapel; Christ and the Last Judgement by Geoffroy-Dechaume
The creation of Eve from Adam's rib (portal of upper chapel)
Relief sculpture of Noah's ark and the flood (portal of upper chapel)
Carved angel on the alcove of the King, north wall
Carved angels holding crown of thorns in the apse (13th century)
Sculpture above the alcove of the King, upper chapel (13th c.)
Sculpture above the alcove of the Queen, upper chapel (13th c.)
One of the Apostles
Statue of Louis IX
Sculpture on north wall of upper chapel
One of the Apostles, north wall
St. John, undecorated (now in the Museum of the Middle Ages Hotel de Cluny)
An Apostle, north wall
Lower chapel, column capital on reverse of west front
Interior of the west facade; Christ with Angels, Sts. Isaiah and Jeremiah in the quadilobes (painting by Steinheil, 1856)
Wall decoration, with the castle of the Kingdom of Castile
Quadrilobe painting of martyrdom of an Apostle, upper chapel (19th c. restitution of 13th c. decor)
Louis IX places the crown of thorns at Sainte-Chapelle (illuminated manuscript from 1480s)
The Grande Châsse, or reliquary, in 1790
Crown of Thorns in gilded crystal case (Notre-Dame de Paris, now in Louvre)
Reliquary bust of Louis IX (Notre-Dame de Paris)

Sainte Chapelle facts for kids

Images for kids

See also