The Beautiful Mystery of Paris’ Sainte Chapelle Stained Glass Windows 

In the 21st century, people go to laser light shows in order to feel like they’ve entered into a dream world. In the 13th century and beyond, though, Parisians and visitors to Paris just had to visit Sainte-Chapelle, a medieval chapel in the center of Paris that was built in the 1240s.

Specifically, people came (and still come—in droves) to gawk at the Sainte Chapelle stained glass. The stained glass that dominates this Gothic church is so stunning, you’ll feel like you’re in a laser light show. The 15, 45-foot-tall stained glass windows originally illustrated 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments of the Bible.

Sunlight pours through vibrant stained-glass windows, casting a rainbow glow across the soaring arches of a Gothic cathedral.

The best way to see Sainte Chapelle’s Stained Glass

Visiting and planning a trip can easily become overwhelming.  If you go DIY style, you most certainly are going to miss out on the best parts. One option is to take a Notre-Dame Island & Sainte-Chapelle Tour. Not only will you see the stunning stained glass windows of Sainte-Chapelle in an entirely different light—pun totally intended—but will also get an insider’s look at the entire Île de la Cité, a fascinating island in the middle of the Seine River. All of this also also includes skip-the-line access to various landmarks, including Sainte-Chapelle, so you’ll be able to breeze right by the usually long line and have more time in front of the glowing, illuminated Sainte Chapelle stained glass windows.

You’ll also amble by Notre Dame and get the inside scoop from your expert guide about the post-fire renovation of the world’s most famous cathedral. But that’s not all. Your guide will lead you through a stroll around the narrow cobbled streets of the Latin Quarter, Paris’ most iconic and romantic neighborhood where the local guide will regale you with tales of the district’s past when artists and writers made the quarter their home. This immersive experience will leave you with a wonderful souvenir in the form of entertaining tales and wonderful memories to take back home.

Breathtaking light filters through towering stained glass windows, filling this Gothic masterpiece with a kaleidoscope of colors.

A Mystery Wrapped in Stained Glass

One of the reasons that makes the enormous stained glass windows of Sainte-Chapelle particularly intriguing is that no one is exactly sure who created them. The famed 20th-century, Polish-born historian Louis Grodecki, whose speciality is Romanesque stained glass, particularly at Sainte-Chapelle and at Chartres Cathedral, did extensive research into the topic and concluded that the Sainte Chapelle stained glass hails from three different workshops, each one with their own distinct styles.

That said, we don’t know all the names or any of the details of the artisans who created these marvelous medieval comic strips of Biblical proportions. Just that the Sainte Chapelle stained glass was designed and built between 1242 and 1248.

Amid the glow of centuries-old stained glass, history comes alive as a guide shares the stories hidden within the chapel’s breathtaking walls.

A Medieval Comic Strip

The windows are meant to be read from left to right and from top to bottom, not unlike a comic strip.

The stained glass panels on the eastern side represent scenes of Christ’s birth as well as his death, including the Passion. The windows on the nave cover some Old Testament tales, starting—naturally—with the Book of Genesis. On the westernmost wall, the windows cover the topic of sacral kings, including the discovery by King Louis IX of relics of Jesus—specificially the relics of the Passion that were brought from the Holy Land by Saint Helena (mother of Roman emperor Constantine) and deposited in Sainte-Chapelle. In fact, the chapel itself was built for the sole reason of housing these relics. (Side note: most of those supposed relics, including Christ’s crown of thorns, were eventually moved to Notre Dame.) It’s also worth noting that the Saint Prepuce or Holy Foreskin of Jesus was supposedly once displayed at Sainte-Chapelle, too, but was eventually transferred elsewhere.

In the upper chapel, the rose window should get special attention. It was designed and placed here much later than the others: in the late 15th century and is an excellent example of what’s called flamboyant Gothic design. The 89 different panels depict the Apocalypse. After the panels were cleaned in 2015, they have a new brightness to them that is remarkable.

So, go ahead and stand in front of the glorious Sainte Chapelle stained glass, illuminating the room, everything in a divine glow. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Beneath the sweeping arches and golden glow of this Gothic cathedral, history whispers through stone and light, inviting awe at every step.

FAQs

Why should you take a tour?

Perhaps by now you’re eager to see the Sainte Chapelle stained glass with your own eyes and be dazzled by the light and color. So in addition to that, as well as getting some incredible insights from the guide, the Notre-Dame Island & Sainte-Chapelle Tour allows you to explore the Île de la Cité like a local, getting a look at the prison cell that held Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution in 1789 and you’ll amble down untrammeled cobblestone lanes to learn about the writers, artists, and poets that have made Paris so irresistible over the centuries. Have we mentioned that you also get skip-the-line access?

What time does the tour start and how long does it last?

The tour lasts for three hours and begins at 6pm Monday to Saturday.

When is the best time to go to Paris?

Shoulder season is always the optimum time to go to Paris: April and May or September and October, when the weather achieves a nice Goldilocks level (Ah, just right!), fewer tourists are there, and hotel and airfares are usually more affordable than in the summer months.

Bridging past and present, the guide uses modern tech to reveal the hidden stories behind centuries-old walls.

Step into Parisian history: book your Notre-Dame Island & Skip-the-Line Sainte-Chapelle Tour today and witness the stained glass masterpiece without the wait!