Sainte-Chapelle mini-guide
The jewel-box royal chapel, five minutes from Notre-Dame.
Built in the 13th century by King Louis IX to house precious relics, the Sainte-Chapelle is one of the most dazzling Gothic interiors in existence — and it’s a five-minute walk from Notre-Dame.
The lower chapel, with its painted vaults, served the palace staff; the upper chapel was reserved for the king. Climb the narrow stair and the room dissolves into glass: walls of windows rising fifteen metres, telling biblical stories across more than a thousand panels.
Go on a bright day if you can — sunlight transforms the upper chapel. Note that the Sainte-Chapelle has its own separate, paid admission managed by the national monuments service; book ahead in high season.
It pairs perfectly with Notre-Dame: the cathedral for scale and history, the chapel for pure colour. History Lover includes a mini-guide with the stories behind the glass.