The Holy Chapel, Sainte Cappelle in French, is another must-see monument on a visit to Paris. It was built in the middle of the Royal Palace on the Île de la Cité (Island of the Cité, in the middle of the Seine), probably by Pierre de Montreuil. It is also known as the Royal Chapel because it was built between 1242 and 1248 to house the relics acquired by King Louis IX of France (later Saint Louis) from Baldwin II, the last Latin Emperor of Constantinople. Among these relics were the crown of thorns, part of the cross, the iron spear, the sponge, and other relics of the martyrdom of Jesus Christ.
The most striking feature is its interior. The lower chapel, arranged in three naves, was consecrated to the Virgin Mary. Above it rises the upper chapel, with a single nave; the true treasure house of sacred relics, reserved for the royal family. It is here that the construction will surprise us: Everything that was supposed to be a wall has been replaced by fifteen stained-glass windows and a rose window, separated by slender arches. small columns, which are almost invisible.
The stained-glass windows depict a vision of human history according to the Bible, from the creation of the world to the life of Jesus, in a complex that occupies more than 600 square meters. In this way, the different chlorination of the glass creates a play of light inside, enhancing the intimate atmosphere the king sought to achieve: a sacred space unlike any other in Christendom, because there, in a special reliquary, were the crown that Christ bore during his passion and a portion of the wood on which he was crucified. The relics are no longer kept there; the French Revolution nearly destroyed the Chapel; they are now housed in Notre Dame.
It is advisable to purchase tickets in advance and arrive early, as the number of tourists increases as the morning progresses. Keep in mind that in a small space, the more people there are, the less you will be able to enjoy the tranquility and beauty of the chapel.