Hotels near Sainte-Chapelle

King Louis IX built Sainte-Chapelle between 1242 and 1248 to house relics he believed to be the Crown of Thorns and fragments of the True Cross. The lower chapel is modest, but the upper chapel is one of the most extraordinary rooms in Gothic architecture - fifteen floor-to-ceiling stained-glass windows, each 15 metres tall, depict 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments. On a sunny afternoon, the effect is overwhelming: the stone walls nearly vanish behind walls of coloured light in red, blue, and gold.

Admission costs EUR 11.50 for adults. A combined ticket with the Conciergerie next door costs EUR 18.50 and is worth it if you have time. Sainte-Chapelle is open daily from 09:00 to 19:00 (until 17:00 October through March). The chapel also hosts classical concerts in the evening - performances of Vivaldi and Bach surrounded by candlelight and medieval glass sell out quickly.

Pro Tip: Visit between 13:00 and 15:00 on a sunny day when the south-facing windows catch direct light - the colour saturation peaks during these hours. Buy tickets online in advance; the security screening and entrance queue within the Palais de Justice complex can take 20 to 30 minutes without a pre-booked slot.