Sainte-Chapelle

 

 Sainte-Chapelle was the private chapel in the royal palace of St. Louis IX, King of France. Also, the namesake of St. Louis, MO.  It was built around 1240, and something like 70% of the stained glass is original. All of the glass was cleaned over the past 7-10 years making the interior glow more brightly. The stained glass only uses 4-5 colors and tells Biblical stories through the Old and New Testaments and the Passion of Chris. The chapel also contains relics of the true cross.

What these pictures do not show are the crowds of people looking up at the stained glass, walls and ceiling. They stay mostly quiet, due to a guard who periodically calls, "Shhhh!" There are tours being given in different languages, quietly, as the groups walk around the inside. However, the crowds do not detract from the true beauty and awe of this space. Though it is large it is not nearly as large as a cathedral, and the light coming in is just breathtaking. I could have stayed in this space all day, given a chair.