OMG. You must come on a sunny day, once the sun is up so you can totally see the magic of the vitreau. I had my doubts if I was here before, so someone told me: if you ever been inside, you'd have no doubt. And after going, I can tell you the same thing. Is not something you forget and definitely I was not here ever before. WOW. Tenes que venir un día soleado, una vez que el sol esta arriba así ves la magia del vitreau en su totalidad. Tenía mis dudas si alguna vez la visite antes, y alguien me dijo: si alguna vez estuviste dentro, no tendrías ninguna duda. Después de haber ido, les puedo decir lo mismo. No es algo que te olvidas así que definitivamente no estuve nunca antes de hoy aquí. read more

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Security check, 10 Euro to get in, and up three flights of a tight curved stairwell but I could not hold back uttering "WOW" out loud as I walked into the church. That first sight of the Sun light coming through the tall stained glass is just so breathtaking! Put this one on your Paris "to do" list. read more

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TLDR: Man, what an amazing church. ____ This place is literally a work of art. The positioning of it is awkward to say the least. It's inside the Court House, so you have to go through the security, and around a building to get to the church. You're going in with tourists and lawyers lol. Then you get to the window and pay the fee. We walked in and were a little taken aback. It's a small room, a gift shop and a sculpture. Ummm....we paid for this? Then we noticed there was a door with a spiral staircase that took you upstairs. WOWZERS. Once you get upstairs you are greeted with utter beauty. Panels and panels of stained glass. If you read from left to right the panels tell a story. You have to see this in person if you are in/visiting Paris. We came early in the day and beat the crowds. read more

This place is a beauty! One of the "must see" when your in Paris. Keep your voices down or else you'll get a ear full from grumpy staff members. But other than that the church is beautiful and breathtaking! read more

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We got our tickets in advance through the Sainte-Chapelle official website. Ticket is 10€ for each person. We printed our tickets ahead of time. We arrived early on a Wednesday morning a little bit after 9 am. We were able to get through the security check point within the first 15 minutes. After the security check point, we by passed the line for the ticket booths and proceeded straight into the chapel first floor. Through a narrow and winding stairwell, we got to the second floor. This is where the magic happens. Words cannot describe how stunning the stained glass windows in this chapel. There are 15 stained glass windows and a large rose window that will take your breath away. I felt humble just to be inside this church. Sainte-Chapelle is a must visit. Don't miss it. read more

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this was on my bucket list !!!!!!!!! for years. Never dreamed I'd make it back to Paris. I'd actually seen this on Facebook and never thought i'd see it in person .. didn't dream we'd ever get the chance to return to Paris but we did. This was i believe 11 euros a person and basically 2 large rooms .. you have to climb treacherous spiral stairs that are worn and rather dangerous. But the reward is worth the near death experience .. the room on stained glass it so large it difficult to capture by photograph. See it ... pictures don[t capture it. read more

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So incredibly beautiful and worth the price of admission. Words can not describe the visual treat you are in for and pictures barley do it justice. After we took in the beauty I stood by the top of the stairs to enjoy the look of awe as folks came up the spiral stairs and got their first glimpse of the chapel. Jaws dropped, walking pace slowed, heck it is enough to get a gaggle of American teen girls to stop talking. read more

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Nice, pretty. Not a good value paying separately because you feel bad about NOT getting into Notre Dame and your museum pass has expired. Stayed 30 minutes- ten would have been fine. Nice stained glass. read more

Here's a tip: if you're going to multiple museums and locations in consecutive days, consider a pass like the Museum pass. Out of all the other attractions I used the pass at, I saved the most time here. For those purchasing a ticket at the gate, not only do you have to wait in line, you may have to wait just to get inside after, due to possible capacity limitations. It seemed like those with passes had priority to go inside. From the get go, be prepared to wait. There's a line outside just to get in through security and the main gate. The cathedral itself is surrounded a wall and guarded by the military. Immediately inside you're met by one of the most ornate rooms ever. When you're done here there is a side stairwell on the left and right of the entrance to take up to the top. Here is where you'll find what you're looking for. The pictures posted here don't do it justice. It's just awe-inspiring. There's stained glass, and then there's the stained glass here. If you come in the afternoon, the place really lights up. read more

The Location: Metro #4, Exit "Cite". Only a few minutes walk from the metro station. There is a sign right outside metro station. The Admission: 8.5 euro (included in museum pass) Built by Saint Louis in 1246 to house the relics of the Passion of Christ. The jewel of Gothic art is adorned with beautiful stained glass windows and remarkable sculpted decoration. Have to wait in line for security check. The church is pretty small so won't take too long to check it out. Nearby there are Notre-Dame and Conciergerie to check it out. read more

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Sainte-Chapelle is absolutely stunning. It was one of my favorite places I visited while in Paris. It's a gorgeous gothic looking cathedral built between 1239-48. It's truly life changing to be in the presence of a building that old as we just have no concept of that in the states. With the Paris Pass/Museum Pass, we were able to skip the line to get in which was a huge plus! That line to get into Saint-Chapelle was LONG! Someone else mentioned not being able to skip the line, but rest assured, you absolutely can. Plus it cost us nothing additional with our pass. A small winding staircase leads you up to the magnificent chapel area. The stained glass is just so awe-inspiring - bright, colorful, beautiful design. This is a spot you must visit while in Paris - plan to spend 1 hour here. read more

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Our hotel was located near the Jardin de Luxemburg so it was a pretty easy walk to Saint Michelle for us. Must see and it's so close to Notre Dame so you can't skip it ;) You dig gothic churches? Then you definitely need to see this one. Beautiful stained glasses inside the church. We visited during August 2010. read more

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This place was breathtaking. It was much smaller than I had imagined based on the pictures but was certainly no less impressive. We visited as part of a Sunday evening music concert. The quality of the performance was so-so but it was definitely a transcendental experience to listen to music in such a beautiful and historical place. I can imagine if you are just stopping by it will not take too long to see. You quite possibly could be in the security line longer than you are in the actual chapel. One perk of going to the concert is that it is after hours so line is only for people attending the concert. Concert goers please note that there are no bathrooms once you go past security!! read more

It is my daughter's 1st time going to Paris and I wanted to show her one of my favorite places, Sainte Chapelle. It is located near the Palais de Justice de Paris which is around the corner from the Concierge. Take the Metro 4 line and exit at Cite. If you have the museum pass, let security know so you can skip the line for tickets and go straight to security. Be prepared to put your bags in trays and walk through the metal detectors for clearance to enter. The chappel is a fraction of the size of Notre Dame or Sacre Coeur but what it lacks in size it makes up for its beauty. It is Gothic style church predominantly surrounded by stained glass windows, which is on the 2nd floor. To go to the main chappel, turn left from the entrance (which is on the back left corner of the room as you enter) and walk up the spiral staircase. Please be careful walking up since the steps are small, smooth, narrow and a tad scary walking up. When you emerge from the spiral staircase, look up and be in awe. I remember my first time and got a little teary-eyed because it was so beautiful. It was breath-taking. Hope you enjoy it as much we have. read more

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They wanted €10 for this place. It's not the biggest so not sure why the charge as Notre Dame for free. It's not like you get any kind of tour for that price. It's seems like you are paying the €10 for the security and the staff--not impressed. read more

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I didn't visit this on my first trip to Paris. In fact, I didn't even know it existed. This was pre-Yelp and even pre smart phone days, so I only hit the big, well-known spots. The French teacher at my school recommended a stop at this location, and even though the line was long and we had to wait in the rain, I decided to take her advice and take a gander. I have to say, the restroom available before going in is in DIRE need of attention. I thought I was going to die from the smell. The church itself is beautiful. Yes, it's small, but it's unique and gorgeous. We stood in the center of the second floor for at least thirty minutes, just admiring all the stained glass. Again, it was cloudy and rainy, but at one point a little bit of sun poked through the clouds and everyone on the floor let out an exclamation of surprise and delight. The windows lit up and it was truly an experience. I can't imagine what it is like on a sunny day. Probably more crowded. Haha. Anyhow, now that I've seen it, it's definitely a recommended place to visit! read more

DEFINITELY A MUST SEE! Was already in the area trying to see the Notre Dame and saw that this church was close and recommended. Walking into the main sanctuary I cried. The stained class panels on all the walls and the paintings were beautiful. I had been to Paris before when I was little with my parents and had never heard of this place. When I showed my mom pictures she was so jealous. It's literally minutes from Notre Dame and you can get a joint ticket to visit the Saint Chappel and the Conciergerie! read more

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Sainte-Chapelle is definitely well worth the visit... even if there is a entrance fee and a line. So breathtaking... with all the stained glass windows.. remind me of a little jewellery box loaded with sparkling precious stones. All those photos I saw in the Art History text book or even the slides and videos not doing Sainte-Chapelle any justice. Standing in nave surrounded by all these colourful stained windows with sunlight filter in, this is an experience that I remember for a long long time! read more

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Despite it's humble exterior the stained glass windows at Sainte-Chapelle are absolutely stunning! The Sainte-Chapelle "Holy Chapel" was built in 1248 to house Louis IX's collection of relics of Christ, which included the Crown of Thorns, a fragment of the True Cross, and precious relics of the Passion of Jesus. Louis IX purchased these relics for the exorbitant sum of 135,000 livres. (The chapel only cost 60,000 livres to build). The Holy Crown of Jesus Christ is now preserved in Notre Dame de Paris. The Sainte-Chapelle is located on the second level so visitors must climb a very narrow and claustrophobic spiral staircase to reach the chapel. Although the chapel is quite beautiful with it's 6,458 square feet of stained glass the Sainte-Chapelle does seem small and bare in comparison to the massive Notre Dame Cathedral. The tiny one room chapel contains no furniture and the chapel was in the middle of a renovation project during our visit so one of the chapel walls was completely covered with a tarp. The sounds of jack hammers and the construction crew was a bit distracting in the angelic surroundings. There is a separate line to the church for Paris Museum Pass holders, but the line was closed off when we visited so we had to wait in the security line with everyone else. Luckily we waited no more than 15 or 20 minutes to get through security and once we were inside we were able to skip the ticket line. read more

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This museum was intimate in size and stunningly gorgeous, with the famous 15 stain glass panes. There is construction going on right now (on the exterior) which is a drab, but it's ok :) You'll enjoy the interior for sure. We didn't get an audio guide, but there were some "1 page guides" that you can pick up in varying languages, to read. The guide talks about what each pane represents. When you first enter the museum, you step into the basement (ground floor); it's not as grand as the top floor. Take the stairs to your left and go upstairs to see the main attraction. You can spend at least 20-30 minutes here for sure. Definitely worth a visit and it's part of your Paris Museum Pass, so why not enjoy?! :) read more

Sainte-Chapelle - Gorgeous window panes telling Biblical stories! - Churches Near Me - Paris, 75

So beautiful, stunning stained glass!! If you have an hour and are looking for something to do, visit Sainte-Chappelle. I thought that it was a tad overpriced for what it was but you will be in and out in less than an hour and did I mention it was beautiful? read more

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Yelp hours are wrong, Guards the front gate say they close at 7 PM. Looks beautiful on the outside!

Remarkable is the main word that comes to mind. I'm so glad we made this stop to take a look at a piece of history and such beautiful artwork. The walls and windows are covered with intricate artwork that represents stories of the Bible. When you first walk into the chapel you have a stunning view of the stained windows. Don't forget to look behind you and step outside to view the walls at the entrance. We purchased tickets online ahead of time to avoid waiting in line. We were able to walk the narrow staircase to the view the chapel quickly. There were a lot of people but we did not have a problem taking pictures and taking our time admiring the sights. It also did not take us long to take our time viewing everything and pass through. There are laminated printouts that provide information on the chapel in several different languages. There is also a gift shop on the lower level slid you would like to purchase a keepsake. read more

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This may have been the most colorful stop on our European vacation. The stain glass windows are jaw dropping. To have so many as part of one Chapel is ridiculous. Sainte-Chapelle probably gets overlooked by tourists because of the imposing Notre Dame nearby but whether you are interested in Christianity, art, French history, or just want to see pretty shiny things then you must stop at Sainte-Chapelle. Make sure to pick up the laminated guide which gives a little history on the art of stain glass as well as how to read the lessons that the windows are trying to depict. Sit down and take your time. It was worth it to me. read more

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If you plan ahead and pounce quickly you may score affordable ticks to this occasional classical concerts. The stairs are steep and narrow up to the chapel- and arrive early enough to get through security. Acoustics are amazing while soaking in the breathtaking stained glass windows. read more

Sainte-Chapelle - Saint Chapel - Churches Near Me - Paris, 75

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The upper church is what I'd imagine heaven is like. Ste Chapelle is a small space but every inch is a masterpiece. I could spend hours and hours studying the glass and sculptures The line will be long and there is high security because it shares premises with the Police/Courts complex. Wait if you must, but don't miss this beautiful medieval church. read more

3.5 stars is most accurate. This church charges a decent amount to enter which is fine. The church is much smaller than notre Dame but it has a beautiful interior. It's so small that the line takes longer than the tour. If I had it to do over I'd go when they have a concert or I would just skip the interior and admire the exterior. read more

Absolutely breathtaking. Make sure to visit this church on a sunny day to get the full experience. Each window tells a different story so make sure to take time to admire each one. Traveling with a handicapped companion I was concerned we would not be able to get to the second floor, but luckily some wonderful staff saw us and offered to guide us up via a handicapped entrance. We were so fortunate to be able to do this and I am so appreciative of the staff's thought and kindness in helping us with this. read more

I bought the Paris Museum Pass and admission was included. I went on a May weekday afternoon and there was no wait to enter. You pass through security and take a small walk to the cathedral. The majestic stained glass is on the second floor. You'll spend maybe 30 minutes here. Not a whole lot to see. If I was visiting Paris and had limited time, I wouldn't make this a high priority - unless you love stained glass. Afterwards you can walk to the Latin Quarter and eat a delicious gyro; only 5 euros! Skip the cheese fondue. read more

Sainte-Chapelle - Churches Near Me - Paris, 75

5 stars easily. Breathtaking. And I'm not talking about the huffing and puffing I heard form some people as they walked up the winding staircase up to the second floor. I'm talking about beautiful structured stained glass windows--a site to behold. Pictures don't do it justice. And I'm so glad we took the time to visit. From the outside, it may just look like any gothic cathedral you'd expect to find in Europe. The first floor is nice, but really just a prelude to the awe-inspiring rows of windows on the top floor. I stood in awe of those windows, taking in the colors and details and just appreciating the craftsmanship it took to create all this in the 13th century. The church was built to house Christian relics acquired by the French monarchy, like the crown of thorns and portion of the true cross--both are now housed at Notre Dame I believe. A lot of work went into restoring the church and windows and the restoration is ongoing today. Admission to Sainte-Chapelle is included in the Paris pass. You also get skip the line privileges but maybe because we visited early in the morning, there wasn't a line for us to skip! read more

Sainte-Chapelle - Churches Near Me - Paris, 75

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WOW! What an amazing chapel! One of my favorite sites in Paris. I entered using the 2 Day Paris Museum Pass which costs 48 euro. It gives you entry into almost every famous museum/site in Paris. And you get to skip the main queue. Normal admission is 10 euro If you love the color blue, this place will blow your mind. The high ceilings are great. The stained glass is so detailed and when the sun shines through it, you are in awe. Make sure you visit both floors. This place is very crowded so make sure you take your time to admire all its glory! read more

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Anyone that knows me knows I am a freak for glass art so when someone told me about Sainte Chapelle I made it a must do of our trip. We toured the first floor and got lots of pics. I was impressed but didn't get the big attraction. As we were leaving, I noticed a small staircase and told Xavier, "Let's check it out." We had no idea where it led and was surprised we were allowed since it looked like one of those areas museums block off to the public. Super narrow and winding we kept climbing for what seemed like forever and then NIRVANAH! read more

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Bigger isn't always better. This small chapel packs a big punch! It's stunning and a must see when in Paris. Many European cathedrals are so similar, having the cross layout, large pillars, but you won't see any of those details at Sainte-Chapelle. What you will see is the most beautiful, intricate stained glass windows. Best viewed on a sunny day! Be sure you check out this gem when in the City of Lights. read more

Sainte-Chappelle is located on the Ile de la Cite along with Notre Dame. It is about 2 blocks west, with/surrounded by the Palace of Justice. There are signs to direct you. When we arrived on a Wednesday morning, there were no lines. The sign suggested you queued separately if you had a City Pass (which we did), but I guess if there are no crowds they just funnel everyone in the same way. You undergo a standard bag-check and then are directed to an inner courtyard. Here you pass court-associated people en route to their daily jobs. You circle to the far side of the chapel to enter. You have a final ticket-check here and enter into a gift shop on the ground floor. To access the chapel itself, you ascend a floor or two of narrow spiral stone stairs. You exit out at the base end of the chapel. Try to go on a sunny day, if possible. If you have any fondness at all for stained glass, the experience here is amazing. In many larger cathedrals, the stained glass is a major focus. Here it is the ONLY focus. The space is large, but not compared to an entire cathedral. If they took Norte Dame and lopped off just the chancel (the semicircular part furthest away from the entrance) and somehow jammed all of its stained glass into the walls of just that space, you'd approximate Sainte-Chappelle. Architecturally, an entire cathedral is more impressive. Artistically/aesthetically, Sainte-Chappelle is more impressive, at least to me. When we were there, a fair number of people were milling around marveling at the glass. However, there was still room to circulate a bit for photos. I've read that they give musical performances here (mostly classical, I think); that might be worth checking out, as it might be a more relaxed setting in which to enjoy not only the music but also the surroundings. This is one of my favorite spots in Paris. read more

This place is only a 2-3 block walk away from Notre Dame. I recommend coming here if you are in the area. The place is very small but extremely beautiful. The entire place is just about the stained glass windows. It will take you a while to look at all the windows. This place does charge for admission. I could do without visiting this place but it was a nice site to see also. read more

When you look at the art and architecture of this chapel and many of the churches in Paris it is hard not to be humbled by them. To think these places were built hundreds and hundreds of years ago is astonishing. The Louvre, Notre Dame and many other interesting sites are within a stones throw of this site, fyi! This place is beautiful and has an amazing history to go with the art and artifacts. This is a must see. The lines are long. We paid a premium for "Skip the Lines" tickets. They were worth every penny as we never stood in line anywhere we used them. read more

Ooooohhhhh! AAAaaaahhhh! Colooooors! Shiiiiny! Most churches in Europe are free, but this one costs €8,50 and you don't need more than 30 minutes here. But luckily the Paris Museum Pass covers this, and also lets you cut to the front of the line. read more

While the chapel is small, especially when compared to Notre-Dame, it's jaw-dropping beautiful and should not be missed! It's only about 2-3 blocks away (very walk-able) from Notre-Dame! Note: We visited in September 2016 read more

Sainte-Chapelle - It's like standing in a jewel box - Churches Near Me - Paris, 75

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Before you skip Sainte Chapelle because it's probably Paris's only church that requires paid admission, read on, because you do not want to miss perhaps one of the most impressive churches you will ever see! With a small modest exterior that especially pales in comparison to the nearby Notre Dame Cathedral, Sainte Chapelle - French for "Holy Shrine" - was constructed by Louis IX (Now one of France's two top saints with Joan of Arc) to house the holy relics such as a piece of True Cross. Although the relics moved to the Notre Dame's treasury, the chapel still retained the very beauty that the French king deemed worthy to hold Christianity's most sacred items. Sure, by photo, Sainte Chapelle looks like just another church with stained glass windows, but look more carefully. While other churches' stained glass tend to be geometric or single-scene on a macro scale, Sainte Chapelle's take it to a much more meticulous level. Each of the fourteen windows tells a chapter in the Bible with all fourteen windows holds 1113 near-microscopic scene! The most impressive is the circular Rose Window that has even more minute details to illustrate the Apocalypse of St John. Combined with the beautiful blue ceiling dotted with golden stars and the twelve apostles that stood watch at every pillar, Sainte Chapelle is certainly a sight that you do not want to miss! Take about an hour to take in the beauty within. €9 is truly nothing compared to the feast for your eye that Sainte Chapelle has to offer. --- tl;dr version: 1) Holy Chapel designed to hold True Cross and other relics 2) Impressive minutely detailed stained glass windows read more

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If you are obsessed with stained glass, then this should be on your Paris to-do list. If you've had your fill at Notre Dame and some other venues, then I'd probably pass. It is on my been-there-done-that-no-need-to-return list. A couple things to note, the cover photo oversells the venue a bit. While the glass is gorgeous, that is it. No other ornamentation (and really it isn't really needed), furniture, etc. Just an empty room with over-the-top glass. You enter on a lower level that operates as a gift shop, then take a short staircase up to the chapel. That is an important differentiation. It is a chapel, not a cathedral, so it is one room (no alcoves or vestries) about 50' by 25' in size. When you are in other famous churches in Europe, you are typically overwhelmed and astounded by the scale (soaring ceilings and arches). The opposite is true here. It reminds me of looking through a kaleidoscope since the glass walls surround you and begin just feet above your head. Because it does not appear to currently be used for services, it is solely a tourist attraction. And that tends to depress me. While I don't subscribe to a particular religion, I have a deep reverence and respect for these places and behave accordingly. Others don't seem to be on the same page. This is a venue on the Paris Museum Pass. Do note that it is in the same location as the Conciergerie at the Palace of Justice. Both museums share the same entry and because you pass through security first, this is the only venue where having the pass didn't let you jump the line. read more