Sainte-Chapelle

After Louis the IX bought Jesus's crown of thorns and other relics he needed an appropriate place to hold them. He built a Royal chapel next to his palace. On the upper floor was the main church, and the entrance was directly from the palace. On the lower level was a place to worship for the other members of the palace. Now the main entrance is lost in space, as the chapel is no longer attached by a direct bridge from the former palace.

From Sainte-Chapelle

We entered through the doors in the lower part, the main entrance for tourists.

From Sainte-Chapelle

Here is where the gift shop is located. The space is very intimate and dark. At the back is this lovely space with a statue of the Virgin Mary.

From Sainte-Chapelle

But the real glory is upstairs in the old Royal chapel. The stained glass windows are so rich with color and beauty. The ceiling is so high the windows seem like they reach up to heaven.

From Sainte-Chapelle

From Sainte-Chapelle

The rose window glimmers.

From Sainte-Chapelle

We spent time looking for Bible stories in the panels.

From Sainte-Chapelle

Statues of the apostles surround the space and look down on you.

From Sainte-Chapelle

The stained glass is like no other, and I have been in many churches in Europe.
The chapel is a great place for quiet reflection, although one will have to keep the mind quiet even with the voices of tour guides and visitors around you. It is easy to imagine how much the Royals would have loved it, and how much the common people would have resented all their wealth going to serve so few, and the arrogance of kings who manipulated the power of the church in pursuit of their own power.