From the inner courtyard of the Palace of Justice (Palais de Justice), passing through an arched walkway, one encounters a masterpiece of Gothic architecture, known as the Sainte Chapelle (Chapel of Saint).
It was built for King Louis IX to house the relic of the Crown of Thorns, which the King acquired in Venice in 1239. This relic had been brought to Venice from Constantinople. The architect who designed this chapel was likely Pierre de Montreuil, who also worked on the Sainte Germain des Prés. Here, he designed two chapels; they are stacked on top of each other and were consecrated in 1248.
The lower chapel serves as the foundation for the entire architectural structure, while above it are large windows adorned with pointed arches and curvilinear designs. A delicate and slender marble corridor enhances the steep roof, and towering above this graceful structure is a spire with small openings, reaching an impressive height of 246 feet (approximately 74.98 meters). Additionally, there are two towers flanking the main facade, in front of which is an arched portal topped with a rose window featuring intersecting pointed arches.
Constructed in the late 15th century, its purpose was to illustrate the book “Revelation.” This entire structure exudes a light and ethereal beauty. The fundamental design transformed from a rigid form to more slender lines, enhancing the towers’ elegance, while almost all the architecture here has changed, leaving only the stained glass windows intact.
Sainte Germain des Prés
