Paris Around

Posts Tagged ‘Saintechapelle’

On Paris’ beautiful Ile de la Cité, nestled in the confines of the Palais de Justice complex and protected from the river Seine by the mighty and foreboding one-time prison of Marie Antoinette, the Conciergerie, lies the sublime church Sainte-Chapelle, a must-see for anyone visiting Paris for the first time, and for those of us who return to it each time we return to Paris, as a kind of sacred pilgrimage.

Sainte-Chapelle is a 13th century (consecrated 1248) structure begun under the auspices Louis IX, who would later become Saint Louis, to house various religious relics of the Passion of Christ, such as Jesus’ Crown of Thorns.

The first time I visited I purchased a combination discount ticket which also allowed me entrance to the Conciergerie. Before I was allowed to enter Sainte-Chapelle, my backpack was searched thoroughly, and this was long before 9/11. It was a rather warm early afternoon, and my Sainte-Chapelle experience was getting off to a poor start standing there in the sun.

I was finally let into the lower chapel, which was used by the parish, the commoner. This was all well and good, very . . . and very French, with lots of red, blue and gold around, and complex vaulted ceilings held up by ornate pillars, all very beautiful; still there had to be more to this place.

I mounted the stairs. These led to the upper chapel reserved for the French royalty of centuries before.  Read more...

On Paris’ beautiful Ile de la Cité, nestled in the confines of the Palais de Justice complex and protected from the river Seine by the mighty and foreboding one-time prison of Marie Antoinette, the Conciergerie, lies the sublime church Sainte-Chapelle, a must-see for anyone visiting Paris for the first time, and for those of us who return to it each time we return to Paris, as a kind of sacred pilgrimage.

Sainte-Chapelle is a 13th century (consecrated 1248) structure begun under the auspices Louis IX, who would later become Saint Louis, to house various religious relics of the Passion of Christ, such as Jesus’ Crown of Thorns.

The first time I visited I purchased a combination discount ticket which also allowed me entrance to the Conciergerie. Before I was allowed to enter Sainte-Chapelle, my backpack was searched thoroughly, and this was long before 9/11. It was a rather warm early afternoon, and my Sainte-Chapelle experience was getting off to a poor start standing there in the sun.

I was finally let into the lower chapel, which was used by the parish, the commoner. This was all well and good, very . . . and very French, with lots of red, blue and gold around, and complex vaulted ceilings held up by ornate pillars, all very beautiful; still there had to be more to this place.

I mounted the stairs. These led to the upper chapel reserved for the French royalty of centuries before.  Read more...