Roavina

Historic monument · Paris 1er Arrondissement, Paris

Sainte Chapelle

Sainte-Chapelle

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

Photograph

A photograph of Sainte Chapelle
Photograph · Mathae · CC BY 2.5
Today
Open today, 09:00 – 19:00
Visit duration
45 min
Accessibility
Partly step-free
Price
€0.00 per person
Standing
Must see · Heritage site
Rank
Rank 10 of 7,605

Place details and sources

This place is a Attraction. It was established in 1245. It was built in the Rayonnant style. It was designed by Pierre de Montreuil. It carries the classified historical monument heritage designation. It is run by Centre des monuments nationaux.

Official website
www.sainte-chapelle.fr Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Telephone
+33153406080 OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Address
Boulevard du Palais, 8, 75001 OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Wheelchair access
Available OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Admission fee
11.50 EUR/person OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Building
Church OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Heritage grade
Grade 2 OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Type of place
Attraction OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Established
1245 Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Heritage designation
classified historical monument Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Architectural style
Rayonnant Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Religion
Christian OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Denomination
Roman Catholic OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Height
75.75 m Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Architect
Pierre de Montreuil Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Operator
Centre des monuments nationaux Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09

About Sainte Chapelle

Sainte-Chapelle is a reliquary the size of a building, and the relic cost more than three times what the building did. Louis IX bought the Crown of Thorns from Baldwin II, the Latin emperor at Constantinople, for 135,000 livres, paid to Venetian bankers. The Grande Châsse made to hold it cost another 100,000. The entire chapel, built and glazed, cost 40,000. Construction began after 1238 and the chapel was consecrated on 26 April 1248. Open daily 09:00-19:00 April-September and 09:00-17:00 October-March; closed selected holidays. An accessible route serves principal lower or public areas, but stairs, historic fabric or summit routes limit the complete circuit. Open daily 09:00-19:00 April-September and 09:00-17:00 October-March; closed selected holidays. Adult admission is EUR 13; eligible under-26 EU/EEA visitors enter free. An accessible route serves principal lower or public areas, but stairs, historic fabric or summit routes limit the complete circuit. Metro Cité or Saint-Michel and RER B/C Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame. Yes. Worship, events, maintenance, weather and security can change ordinary access. No. Special tours, exhibitions and upgrades use separate tickets. Open daily 09:00-19:00 April-September and 09:00-17:00 October-March; closed selected holidays. Adult admission is EUR 13; eligible under-26 EU/EEA visitors enter free. An accessible route serves principal lower or public areas, but stairs, historic fabric or summit routes limit the complete circuit. Metro Cité or Saint-Michel and RER B/C Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame. Open daily 09:00-19:00 April-September and 09:00-17:00 October-March; closed selected holidays. Adult admission is EUR 13; eligible under-26 EU/EEA visitors enter free.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

What's inside

Two chapels stacked on each other, and 670 m² of thirteenth-century glass. The lower chapel is dark, low and painted, and was for the palace staff. The upper chapel was for the king and the relics, and it is what people come for: fifteen windows of about 670 m² of stained glass, most of it installed between 1242 and 1248. The rose window at the west end is later — late fifteenth century — nine metres across, with 89 panels of Apocalyptic scenes. The Revolution destroyed the exterior sculpture and demolished the spire. Adult admission is EUR 13; eligible under-26 EU/EEA visitors enter free. Metro Cité or Saint-Michel and RER B/C Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

How long to spend

Forty-five minutes inside, and most of it standing in the upper chapel. There is one room and it is small. What takes the time is that the glass rewards being read rather than glanced at — the windows run in narrative order and the panels are the size of a hand at forty metres. The lower chapel takes ten minutes and is where the queue is held. The Conciergerie is in the same building complex and is another hour. An accessible route serves principal lower or public areas, but stairs, historic fabric or summit routes limit the complete circuit.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Season and crowds

Open daily 09:00-19:00 April-September and 09:00-17:00 October-March; closed selected holidays. Metro Cité or Saint-Michel and RER B/C Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame. An accessible route serves principal lower or public areas, but stairs, historic fabric or summit routes limit the complete circuit. Adult admission is EUR 13; eligible under-26 EU/EEA visitors enter free.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Tickets

Adult admission is EUR 13; eligible under-26 EU/EEA visitors enter free. The base amount and currency follow the operator tariff; premium products and separate institutions remain excluded unless named. Yes. Worship, events, maintenance, weather and security can change ordinary access.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Getting there

Metro Cité or Saint-Michel and RER B/C Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame. An accessible route serves principal lower or public areas, but stairs, historic fabric or summit routes limit the complete circuit. Open daily 09:00-19:00 April-September and 09:00-17:00 October-March; closed selected holidays. Adult admission is EUR 13; eligible under-26 EU/EEA visitors enter free.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

What to watch out for

An accessible route serves principal lower or public areas, but stairs, historic fabric or summit routes limit the complete circuit. Open daily 09:00-19:00 April-September and 09:00-17:00 October-March; closed selected holidays. Adult admission is EUR 13; eligible under-26 EU/EEA visitors enter free. An accessible route serves principal lower or public areas, but stairs, historic fabric or summit routes limit the complete circuit. Historic surfaces, crowds and security remain relevant.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Photography

The upper chapel defeats phone cameras: the windows are brilliant and the stone between them is dark, and any automatic exposure picks one and loses the other. Expose for the glass and let the stone go black — that is closer to what the eye sees anyway. The full sweep of fifteen windows needs a very wide lens from the west end, under the rose. The rose window itself, nine metres across with 89 panels, is best in late afternoon when the sun is on the west front. Adult admission is EUR 13; eligible under-26 EU/EEA visitors enter free.

Checked 2026-08-31 · Source

Common questions

What are the regular hours?

Open daily 09:00-19:00 April-September and 09:00-17:00 October-March; closed selected holidays.

What is base admission?

Adult admission is EUR 13; eligible under-26 EU/EEA visitors enter free.

Is the complete route step-free?

An accessible route serves principal lower or public areas, but stairs, historic fabric or summit routes limit the complete circuit.

Which public transport is named?

Metro Cité or Saint-Michel and RER B/C Saint-Michel-Notre-Dame.

Can operations alter access?

Yes. Worship, events, maintenance, weather and security can change ordinary access.

Are premium products included?

No. Special tours, exhibitions and upgrades use separate tickets.

Where it is

Nearby

Within 2 min on foot
  • Palais de Justice 20 min
    1 min walk · Paris 1er Arrondissement

    Palais de Justice

    • Notable · Heritage site
    • Historic monument
  • Les Deux Palais 1 hour
    1 min walk · Paris 4e Arrondissement

    Les Deux Palais

    • Notable
    • Restaurant or café
  • Conciergerie 1 hr 15 min
    2 min walk · Paris 1er Arrondissement

    Conciergerie

    • Must see · Heritage site
    • Museum

Last updated:

Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·