Sainte+Chapelle

= Sainte Chapelle =

Sainte Chapelle is a masterpiece of Rayonnant Style gothic architecture located in the Palais de Justice complex in the center of Paris. It was raised by Louis IX, to quarter the Crown of Thorns and some of the True Cross. The Chapel dates back to 1241 and was said to be built by Pierre de Montreuil to house the relics. The construction is 36 m long, 17 m wide, and 42.5 m high.

Sainte Chapelle has two parts, the Upper Chapel and the Lower Chapel. The Upper Chapel is very light in color and the area represents art and religious faith; greatest care was taken in the Upper Chapel. Holy relics were stored in the Upper Chapel and it is connected to the main council room also known as the aula. There is a staircase on the southern side so the Upper Chapel is easily accessible. The stain glass windows cover 6,458 square feet of the Upper Chapel. The windows are dark red and blue, along with the rose windows that were added in the 15th century. They portray over 1,130 figures of the Bible.

The Lower Chapel is dedicated the the Virgin Mary. It served as parish church for the inhabitants of the palace. It has low vaulted ceilings and the walls are decorated with trefoiled arcades and twelve medallions defining the Apostles. The Chapel is plain and today a souvenir stand occupies most of the floor. Most of the present building was built in the 18th century under the reign of Louis XVI, due to damage. Sainte Chapelle was blemished by a fire in 1630 and again in 1776. The stain glass windows were removed when the Seine River flooded in 1690. The Sainte Chapelle stands for “holy chapel”. It also was damaged during the French Revolution because it symbolized religion and royalty.

This perfected chapel is known for its stained glass and was classified as a Historical National Monument in 1862. Today, it’s used on rare special occasions for worship and is frequently used for classical music concerts.