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La Sainte Chapelle (The Holy Chapel) is a Gothic chapel on the Ile de la Cité, in the heart of Paris.
It is perhaps the purest example of high Gothic architecture in the world.
The reason for that can be attributed to the speed at which it was built. Begun in 1246, it was completed and consecrated on April 26, 1248, and was most likely designed by one person.
No designer-builder is directly mentioned in the archives, but the name of Pierre de Montreuil has been historically connected with the chapel.
Pierre de Montreuil had rebuilt the apse of the Abbey of Saint Denis and completed the façade of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
The patron was Louis IX who had it built as the chapel for the royal palace.
The palace itself has disappeared, leaving the Sainte Chapelle surrounded by the Palais de Justice. The Palais de Justice was where important aristocrats pleaded their cases before the king.
At the time it was built, Ste. Chapelle needed suitable relics: Christ's crown of thorns was available.
Unlike many devout aristocrats, who merely stole the relics they wanted, Louis IX bought his relics, purchased from the Latin emperor at Constantinople, Baldwin II, for the exorbitant sum of 135,000 livres.
The entire chapel, by contrast, cost 40,000 livres to build.
A piece of the True Cross was later added, and other relics as well. Thus, the building was like a precious reliquary.
Politics had much to do with the building of Ste. Chapelle. The Emperor in Constantinople was, in the mind of Louis IX, only a Count from Flanders. That, and the fact that the Holy Roman Empire was at this time in great disarray, Louis IX saw an opportunity to make his city the major center of Christendom.
The Royal Chapel stands squarely upon a lower chapel, which served as parish church for the inhabitants of the palace. The Palace itself was the seat of government.
The most visually beautiful aspects of the chapel are its stained glass for which the stonework is a delicate frame. They are considered the finest examples of their type in the world. The rose windows were added to the upper chapel in the 15th century.
During the French Revolution, the chapel was converted to an administrative office and the windows were covered by enormous filing cabinets.
The spire was also pulled down and the relics were dispersed.
In the 19th century, Viollet le Duc restored Sainte Chapelle to its present state. The new spire is his design.
Sainte Chapelle has been a national historic monument since 1862.
Sainte Chapelle Hours and Admissions
Sainte Chapelle is open every day during March-October from 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. During the rest of the year it is open from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. It is closed Monday-Friday from 1:00 p.m.-2:15 p.m. It is closed on December 25.
Admissions are 6.50 euros for adults; 4.50 euros for those between the ages of 18-25; free for those under 18 years of age and for those persons who are handicapped.
A combination ticket of Sainte Chapelle and the Conciergerie is 10 euros for adults and 7.50 for persons between the ages of 18-25 years old.
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