"Forming part of the buildings of the Palais de Justice (once the royal palace) on the Île-de-la-Cité, it [Sainte Chapelle] was built by Pierre de Montreuil (1243–46) for Louis IX (St. Louis) to enshrine the Crown of Thorns and other sacred relics brought back from the Crusades. Just as the Emperor could pass privately from his palace into Hagia Sophia in Constantinople, so now King Louis could walk directly from his palace into the Sainte-Chapelle." - Columbia Encyclopedia (March 2012) Gothic crocketed gables ..... Crocketed pinnacles Cresting |
Trefoil tracery Gargoyles |
Visitor entrance Flamboyant Gothic. Note "flames" in the rose window. |