The Sainte-Chapelle, a lovely Gothic masterpiece with stunning 15-meter (50-foot)-tall stained glass windows is a must-see for visitors to Paris.

Built in 1246 by St. Louis (King Louis IX), much of the Sainte-Chapelle's glass is original and is the oldest in Paris.

The Sainte-Chapelle also makes a wonderful, intimate venue for concerts. Offered most evenings during the summer months, and weekends year round, the program often includes Vivaldi's Four Seasons. However, you may also hear Bach, Mozart, Handel, and other well-known composers.

A variety of musicians perform the various concerts, and they are excellent. We attended a beautiful performance of The Four Seasons at the Sainte-Chapelle. Later in the same week, we noticed that two of the performers were also playing with the Paris Orchestra when we attended a concert at the Philharmonie de Paris!

The music soared to the heights of the Sainte-Chapelle and late afternoon sun illuminated the stained glass windows as musicians performed Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

The Sainte-Chapelle is located within Paris's Palais de Justice (law courts), and security is especially tight. You must pass through an airport-type security check and you will not be allowed to bring any weapons or weapon-like tools (Swiss army knife, scissors, etc) into the complex.

Tickets can be purchased on line through classictic or across the street at the Café Les Deux Palais; some tickets may be available at the door. Although individual seats are not reserved, tickets are sold (and priced) by section: VIP up front and most expensive; section A in the middle; and section B toward the back.

If you are in Paris during the summer months, when there are long hours of daylight, try to plan your concert for an early evening on a sunny day, so you will get the most benefit of the sun shining through the beautiful stained glass.

Métro: Cité or Saint-Michel

Sainte-Chapelle
(Note: this is for general information about the Sainte-Chapelle, not the concerts.)
8 Blvd du Palais
75001 Paris

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