A Stroll Through Paris’ Sainte-Chapelle

Shimmering like a radiant jewel box, Sainte-Chapelle is often overlooked by visitors to Paris, who only visit Notre Dame Cathedral. I’d long read how Sainte-Chapelle is a must-see and favorite among shutterbugs, yet it took me several visits to the City of Light to see this Gothic masterpiece.

The chapel was commissioned by King Louis IX of France, who also is the namesake for St. Louis, Missouri. Despite extensive damage inflicted during the French Revolution, the chapel’s 13th-century stained glass largely survived.

Our summer visit coincided with an extensive restoration project, which concealed some of the stunning panels, nevertheless we savored the chance to take in the opulent details.

Where in the World?

Planning Pointers:

Sainte-Chapelle is located next to the Justice Department, so expect longer lines and an extensive security check. We didn’t know this latter detail in advance, so in order to pass security we had to hand over a pocketknife that we’ve been picnicking with since our travels in Vietnam.
Consult the official website for Saint Chapelle’s opening hours and ticket details.
Google Arts & Culture showcases some nice historical photos and engravings of Sainte-Chapelle.

About the author

Hi! My name is Tricia Mitchell. I delight in telling stories about my slow travels through more than 65 countries. Some of my highlights have included sharing meals with locals in Armenia, Cambodia, and Tunisia; sipping sparkling wine with French cousins in Alsace; milking goats in a sleepy Bulgarian village; and training with a Japanese mine-clearance team in Laos. My husband, Shawn, and I are based in France’s Loire Valley.

53 responses to “A Stroll Through Paris’ Sainte-Chapelle”

Tina Schell

October 10, 2013

Beautiful post Tricia, esp like the shot w the candles.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 10, 2013
  
  Good morning, Tina, and thank you! We visited Sainte-Chapelle on a rather overcast day, which made me ponder how it must look with the sunlight streaming in through the stunning stained glass. I’ve also read that the evening concerts – with the entire chapel illuminated – are wonderful. Have you been?
  
  1. Tina Schell
    
    October 10, 2013
    
    Have been to Ste Chappelle but not to the concerts. It’s really beautiful!
Just Melissa

October 10, 2013

Reblogged this on Virgin On The Rocks.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 11, 2013
  
  Thank you for sharing, Melissa!
  
Rachael

October 10, 2013

Sumptuous. Like walking around inside a jewel box. It’s now top of my list for our next trip.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  November 12, 2013
  
  Rachael, are you headed to Paris soon? I imagine the restoration work will be done then, allowing you to photograph the entire chapel. If it is pretty with a portion scaffolded and covered, I can only imagine how it must look completely finished!
  
odd tales from abroad

October 10, 2013

LOVE Ste Chapelle! When I was a studying abroad in Paris I spent many, many days wandering through it. Never understood why more people didn’t know about it. Thank you for capturing its beauty!

http://oddtalesfromabroad.wordpress.com/

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  November 3, 2013
  
  Lucky you to have had the chance to visit Sainte-Chapelle several times. Such is the joy of living in a place for an extended amount of time. How long have you been living in the Ukraine?
  
Stephen G. Hipperson

October 10, 2013

Lovely glass. Thanks for bringing it to us.
(Somewhere I’d like to have a photobtrip myself.)

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 20, 2013
  
  Stephen, my pleasure. These pictures are from earlier this summer. After having read about Sainte-Chapelle for many years, I was really motivated to work this into our must sees. I hope you’ll also have the chance to get there soon.
  
restlessjo

October 10, 2013

It looks very beautiful, sunshine or not, Tricia. Lovely photos. :)

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 11, 2013
  
  Perhaps if you make it to Monet’s former home garden in Giverny for your next anniversary you can put Sainte-Chapelle on your itinerary. You’re right that the stained glass looked stunning whether illuminated with artificial or natural light – such stunning artistry!
  
rameyontheroad

October 11, 2013

Oh yes! I studied this one in an art history course. Look at that beautiful rosette window! Good for you, getting off the beaten path a bit.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  November 3, 2013
  
  Ramey, such is the joy of travel, right? Speaking of, I shall look forward to reading your adventures from South America. That’s an elusive continent that I’d love to visit someday soon. :)
  
  1. rameyontheroad
    
    November 15, 2013
    
    Indeed! I hear being inside Ste. Chapelle is like being inside a giant jewel box. All those enormous stained glass windows, a tiny chapel but an enormous reliquary. So cool!
    
    South America is an amazing place, very different from Europe, though at times very European in influence. We are very much looking forward to returning. Thanks for following along!
tobyo

October 11, 2013

beautiful!! and reminiscent of Notre Dame a mon avis (I think I got that right. been a while since I wrote any French!). thanks for the follow by the way :)

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 11, 2013
  
  Toby, bien fait! :) Your comment reminds me that I must dust off my French books. A pleasure to connect indeed.
  
Darlene

October 11, 2013

Fabulous photographs! Often the lesser known spots can prove to be amazing.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 11, 2013
  
  So true, Darlene, about a place’s lesser-frequented sites. On our most recent trip to Paris, we also enjoyed exploring a few of the covered (shopping) passages. Surprisingly, there weren’t many other visitors there that afternoon. That made the afternoon explorations all the more fun.
  
Browsing the Atlas

October 11, 2013

You know what’s funny?Until I just saw your picture, I’m not sure I ever stopped gazing up long enough to see that the floor was pretty, too!

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 11, 2013
  
  Juliann, that just goes to show that I easily get lost in the details. :-) When you visited was the renovation work taking place?
  
Gerard

October 11, 2013

That’s beautiful. I like visiting beautiful churches.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 11, 2013
  
  Gerard, I suppose it should be especially beautiful since it was built for a king. When we were there, I enjoyed imagining how all the stained glass panels were created and put in place. So much intricate work.
  
  Wish you a lovely autumn weekend. Here in the Alps we just got our first snowfall of the season. It came as a great surprise for October!
  
  1. Gerard
    
    October 11, 2013
    
    Tricia, when I see beautiful artwork I try to appreciate all the work that went into it.
    
    Enjoy the snow!
  2. Tricia A. Mitchell
    
    October 13, 2013
    
    Gerard, fortunately it’s almost all melted (with the exception of that which dusted the local mountain peaks). Wish you a wonderful Sunday afternoon. :)
jingsandthings

October 11, 2013

Stunning stained glass.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 11, 2013
  
  It is — and even more so when one remembers how long (most of) it has survived. Hope you have a wonderful weekend, Dorothy.
  
melindalusmore

October 12, 2013

Stunning photos Tricia. It is so hard to do this chapelle justice but you have captured it beautifully. It is my must-do visit for anyone going to Paris. I have visited a few times and each time a few panels have been covered for restoration or cleaning but it would be wonderful to see it in all its glory. I read an interesting fact that during WWII (and maybe WWI) all glass panels were removed from Sainte-Chapelle and Notre-Dame to avoid damaged from the bombing and put back later!!

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 16, 2013
  
  Melinda, thanks for sharing your experience and that interesting historical tidbit about both Sainte-Chapelle and Notre Dame. It’s mind-boggling to imagine the delicate panels being painstakingly removed, placed into storage, and then returned.
  
belocchio

October 12, 2013

A rich, glorious, gorgeous photo story that has me wandering through this incense scented world you have given us. What a joy Tricia. XX Virginia

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 16, 2013
  
  I so appreciate your kind comment, Virginia. Knowing how much you adore La Ville-Lumière, I’ll make a point of sharing more details from our adventures there earlier this summer.
  
  1. belocchio
    
    October 16, 2013
    
    Thank you, thank you, thank you!! XX V.
rigmover

October 14, 2013

Very nice Tricia, I was there many years ago.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 16, 2013
  
  Mark, you certainly have done a lot of globetrotting! Hope your business building is proceeding well. :)
  
gallivance.net

October 14, 2013

Tricia, I think that Sainte-Chapelle is my favorite cathedral in all the world, and your photos capture it beautifully. Your description of it as a jewel box is so perfect. When I entered the chapel the first time, it just took my breath away. ~Terri

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 16, 2013
  
  Terri, you both are so well-travelled that it’s quite a declaration to say it’s your favorite! Was it undergoing restoration work during your visit?
  
  Speaking of visiting, I haven’t been able to properly track your eastern European adventures as of late. I look forward to doing so shortly though, and hope you’re having a fantastic time, which I know you are.
  
the eternal traveller

October 15, 2013

Isn’t this the most beautiful place. We didn’t know about it until our guide at Mont St Michel mentioned it and I asked him where it was. He said we must definitely go there so we followed his advice. The queue was very long but it was worth the wait and the effort of going through all the security. It was sunny when we were there and the glass was glorious. I also loved the painted effects on the walls. I actually thought it was fabric until I looked closely.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 16, 2013
  
  With the sunshine, the light streaming through the windows must have created kaleidoscope-like effects. Sounds stunning, Carol!
  
  What did you think of Mont-Saint-Michel? Did you get a chance to walk out on the tidal flats?
  
  1. the eternal traveller
    
    October 16, 2013
    
    Our visit to Mont St Michel was the absolute highlight of our five week holiday for me, in 2008. We had a great guide who was so passionate about its story, and we also had a glorious day weather-wise. After reading about the quick sand we didn’t risk walking out there, but I got great photos. I will write about it all one day.
  2. Tricia A. Mitchell
    
    October 17, 2013
    
    We didn’t have a guide, so I’ll look forward to hearing what interesting tidbits you learned from yours, Carol. Are you heading to Germany and Belgium soon?
  3. the eternal traveller
    
    October 17, 2013
    
    We’ve been and we’re home again. We had five marvellous weeks. Bruges was gorgeous, Brussels is so cosmopolitan and vibrant and I really enjoyed the history in Cologne. I also enjoyed the Belgian chocolate and Belgian waffles…very much.
  4. Tricia A. Mitchell
    
    October 20, 2013
    
    Carol, happy to hear that you had a wonderful time. Your Austrian salt mine tour adventures and Belgian treats have especially piqued my interest. :)
  5. the eternal traveller
    
    October 20, 2013
    
    There will be more to come about Belgian treats. They were so very delicious.
travelerlynne

October 16, 2013

The detail and artisanship is stunning. So glad you took the time to visit this cathedral and share it with us.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 16, 2013
  
  A pleasure to have you along virtually, Lynne. With today’s more advanced equipment, I often wonder what treasures developers could build if they used more lasting materials as they did with this chapel?
  
  Hope you’re well and enjoying a splendid autumn!
  
  1. travelerlynne
    
    October 17, 2013
    
    We are presently on an autumn road trip…to Memphis to see family and then take in the Arkansas along the White River/Miss River, then back to Mississippi along the River and then Louisiana”s Cajun country and then home.Haven’t explored this region. Happy autumn to you both.
  2. Tricia A. Mitchell
    
    October 20, 2013
    
    What a stunning time of year to be road-tripping. Wish you safe travels as I look forward to reading your tales, Lynne.
Giovannoni Claudine

October 16, 2013

Well, even if I do prefer the Notre-Dame… I agree that the stained glasses are beautiful! As you know, I do have a special “bind” to the Notre-Dame, since a lot happens there… and the portal between dimentions is quite nicely concealed!
:-D claudine

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  October 17, 2013
  
  Claudine, Annwyn must have a special tie with Notre Dame? :)
  
  1. Giovannoni Claudine
    
    October 17, 2013
    
    It does, indeed… not only for Hator Var Darquen de Aguillar… :-D but a lot has to be disclosed in the continuation of the novel… Are you enjoying it? Lovely night :-)claudine
Naomi Baltuck

November 7, 2013

Really lovely shots of my favorite church in Paris.

1. Tricia A. Mitchell
  
  November 19, 2013
  
  Merci, Naomi! I can see why it’s special to you.