Traveling to Paris in December? There are a number of exciting new cultural venues to check out (like the Fondation Louis Vuitton), but don’t miss one of the city’s historic marvels: Sainte Chapelle. Built by Saint Louis on the Ile de la Cité in the 13th century, the chapel is a masterpiece of Flamboyant Gothic architecture recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Sainte Chapelle was built to house the king’s collection of Passion Relics (including the Crown of Thorns, since transferred elsewhere), and it boasts some of the most extraordinary stained glass windows in the world.
Since 2008, these windows have been the focus of an intensive restoration project, which has also restored the building’s façade and sculptures. The work has been led by the chief architect of Monuments Historiques, Alain-Charles Perrot. Master craftsmen, specialized in stained glass work, were recruited to restore the luster of the original windows. When the project is unveiled, it will be possible to see 1,113 detailed scenes from the Old Testament and the Passion of the Christ, portrayed in brilliant color in the stained glass windows. For more information, visit http://sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr/en/
Photo of the chapel via Wikipedia/ Michael D. Hill; photo of the stained glass window via Wikipedia/ Public Domain
