Sainte-Chapelle of Paris

(French)

The Sainte-Chapelle was above all a ersonal undertaking of St Louis (king Louis IX),built in six years (1242-1248).It was designed to house the relics of Clirist's Passion,especially the Crown of Thorns,the possession of which put France,in this flourishing Xlllth century,in the forefrorit of Latin Christendom. In 1239,Louis IX acquired this most precious relic of the Passion from emperor Baudouin il of Constantinople for the (at that time) outrageons sum of £135,000 (by contraste the Chapelle itself cost a "mere" £40,000).Two years later, further relics were brought from Byzantium.They were kept in one of the palace chapels, dedicated to St Nicholas,until a worthier setting could be prepared.
The Sainte-Chapelle was dedicated on 26 April 1248.The upper chapelfor the king's use and the display of the relics,was dedicated by the papal legate Eudes de Châteauroux;the lower chapel,the palace's parish church, was dedicated to the Virgin Mary by Pierre Berruyer,archbishop of Bourges.
During the French Revolution,because it was a symbol of both the monarchy and religion,the Sainte-Chapelle suffered terribly: the choir stalls and rood screen were destroyed,the organ carried off to the church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois,the spire torn clown,the tympana over the doors vandalized and the relics dispersed.Most of the statues were saved by Alexandre Lenoir. Extensive restoration begaii in 1846 under the architecte Duban,Lassus and Boeswillwald,returning the Sainte-Chapelle to its former splendeur.
Adress:
Palais de la Cité,Sainte Chapelle
4 boulevard du Palais
75001,Paris,Tél: 01 53 73 78 51

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