Awe-inspiring visit to 13th century Sainte Chapelle, Paris, France

Built in the XIII century under the patronage of Louis IX, Sainte Chappelle was designed as a monument to house precious Christian relics. The most prestigious of which was the Crown of Thorns, acquired in 1239 (eventually moved to Notre Dame cathedral in 1806.)

Located in Ile de la Cite, this two-level gothic masterpiece was originally designed as a palatine chapel. The upper level was reserved for the king and was connected to his apartments through a gallery, while the lower level was used by palace staff. After the French Revolution, it was used to restore monuments.

Louis IX inherited the throne from his father King Louis VIII. He was a devout catholic, considered a saint and actually canonized by the church in 1297.

The first time I set my foot in the chapel, I was immediately awe-struck by its 15 giant stained-glass windows, each 50ft tall with panels depicting 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments. A visit to the City of Light is not complete without a stop at Sainte Chapelle. This spectacular landmark welcomes over one million visitors per year. Make sure to add it to your Paris travel plan.

Reference Sainte Chapelle web site, A guide to Sainte Cha p pelle