A royal chapel inside the Palais de la Cite complex in Paris, Sainte-Chapelle was the pinnacle of French Gothic architecture. Sainte Chapelle is known as one of the significant religious symbols in the history of Western Christianity. This Chapelle was made to preserve the precious Christian relics and was able to conquer 22 artefacts but now has only three left in its possession. The Crown of Thorns is known as the most important relic among others, which was acquired by King Louis fromBaldwin II, the Emperor of Constantinople, in 1239. However, it surpasses both in terms of the calibre of its stained glass and the way its stone walls have been transformed into glistening walls of light. The Sainte Chapelle is renowned for its beautiful and detailed 15 stained glass windows that depict around 1113 acts or scenes from the Old and New Testaments of the Christian history of Paris. It showcases the story till the moment relics arrive at Paris, in a colourful and peaceful environment of the Chapelle. There are two chapels, the lower one dedicated to the Virgin and the upper one dedicated to the Holy Cross. The upper chapel appears to defy the laws of physics due to its high vertical emphasis.
Numerous exceedingly sacred objects were pawned in the 13th century by the impoverished King Baldwin II of Constantinople. Large Gothic churches were constructed in the shape of a cross and had various features. Stained glass was one of the main features of gothic architecture, with metal frames fitted with colored glass to produce pictures and abstract patterns.
The chapel's exterior is straightforward and rather sombre, where the Rayonnant Gothic chapel has deep buttresses and large windows (15 m) split by bar tracing. In reference to the first relic Louis IX brought into the chapel, the latter is topped with pinnacles adorned with crockets and thorny crowns. The chapel's entrance is hidden beneath a portico, whose tympanum symbolises the coronation, along with a Virgin and Child shown on the trumeau. A more elaborate porch with a tympanum that symbolises the Last Judgement is located above it, with a spire was built in 1853 and rose 75 metres above the street.
Built to hold a reliquary, Saint Chapelle Paris resembled a priceless shrine that had been turned inside out. Although the stained glass dominates the inside, every square inch of the vault and the remaining wall surfaces was likewise lavishly colored and ornamented. The original colours were significantly brighter than those preferred by the 19th-century restorers. They would have been closer to the colours of the stained glass, according to an analysis of residual paint pieces. Rich textile hangings complemented the interior's richness. The quatrefoils of the dado arcade were painted with pictures of saints and martyrs and inset with painted and gilded glass, mimicking Limoges enamels.
Two of the main architects of the 19th-century restoration, Durban and Lassus, used a neutral tone in the soubassements. The lower areas where no traces of the original hue were discovered, to avoid clashing with the colours of the Stained Glass Windows can be seen after restoration. They drew inspiration from the Psalm book illuminations from the Royal Library's 13th-century collection for their colour scheme for other ornamentation. On the stone arches of the soubassements, they meticulously repainted the forty-four quadrilobe medallions from the 13th century, which showed saints being martyred against a gold background.
The cathedral church in Paris is known as Notre-Dame de Paris or Notre-Dame Cathedral. It stands out for its size, age, and architectural interest and is the most well-known of all the medieval Gothic cathedrals. It was constructed on the ruins of two earlier churches and is located near the eastern extremity of the Île de la Cité. Bishop of Paris Maurice de Sully was the driving force for the cathedral. A choir and apse, a brief transept, and a nave flanked by dual aisles and square chapels make up this structure.
The construction of Paris's oldest bridge, Pont Neuf, which spans the Seine River via the Île de la Cité, took place between 1578 and 1607 despite delays. Possibly drawing inspiration from an earlier design by Guillaume Marchand, it was created by Baptiste du Cerceau and Pierre des Illes. Its "short arm" was made up of five arches from the island to the left bank. While its "long arm" was made up of seven arches from the right bank of the Seine to the western edge of the Île de la Cité.
The Musée de Cluny, officially known as the Musée National du Moyen ge, is two museums combined together. The larger part is covered by the Middle Ages, and the second portion of it is located inside France's biggest remaining Roman bath. The Cluny Abbot constructed the beautiful mediaeval palace that served as the museum's primary space in 1330 and had it renovated in 1510. It was formerly a private dwelling and is one of Paris's oldest structures.
Boulevard du Palais, 8. On l'île de la Cité.
Following is the Sainte Chapelle Hours of working-
From January 2 to March 31- 9.00 am to 5.00 pm.
From April 1 to September 30- 9.00 am to 7.00 pm.
From October 1 to December 31- 9.00 to 5.00 pm.
On January 1, May 1, and December 25, the chapel will be closed. No admission will be permitted 30 minutes before closing.
Since Sainte Chapelle Paris can get crowded, it is advised to purchase e-tickets in advance to guarantee your place. For a complete refund, if you make a reservation online, you must cancel the Sainte Chapelle tickets at least 24 hours before the start of your tour.
To avoid crowded times, early morning can be considered one of the best times to visit the place, as it will allow you to make sure that you can enjoy the art and architecture of the place in more detail. This will also allow you to pray in more peace at the Chapelle.
Although there is no prescribed dress code, as it is a place of worship, modest attire is advised.
You can expect about an hour to complete a Sainte Chapelle visit, as you go along and admire the architecture and significance of the place. The place is not very big, but can take more time for someone who is really into art and history.
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