The enchanting beauty of the stained glass windows of the Chapel of the Sainte-Chapelle

The Sainte-Chapelle, or Holy Chapel, is a marvel of Gothic architecture that cannot be compared to any of the Catholic cathedrals. It is considered one of the most beautiful Gothic churches of small size. It is estimated that the stained glass windows cover 618 square meters in Sainte-Chapelle. The light penetrating through the stained glass windows creates a soft golden glow in the chapel. Her real beauty can therefore be appreciated only by going up to the second floor.

The stained-glass windows of the Sainte-Chapelle depict biblical subjects: from the creation of the world and up to the creation of the chapel itself. Most of the stained-glass windows are unique: they are authentic preserved stained-glass windows of the XIII century.

Stained—glass paintings made of colored glass refract sunlight and create an atmosphere of mystery and involvement in the higher spheres, which is so important for the temple. In the Middle Ages, the formation of the art of stained glass was directly related to the active temple construction. The bright stained glass compositions contained messages for the illiterate about the salvation of the soul, illustrations of biblical stories.

The Chapel of the Sainte-Chapelle in the center of Paris was built as an ark preserving the relics of Christ acquired by the King of France Louis the Saint. The lower church of Sainte-Chapelle is the foundation for the entire structure, huge windows rise up from it, and the elegant upper church of Sainte-Chapelle resembles a precious casket.

The windows occupy the main space of the chapel — only fifteen lancet windows with a height of about 15 meters. They are devoted to the traditional theme — the succession of rulers of different periods, from the Old Testament patriarchs to the reign of Christ and the hereditary kings of France.

The decoration of the Sainte-Chapelle impresses with its sophistication and richness. On the ground floor of this Parisian chapel, tourists will see a frescoed vault seven meters high, beautiful stained glass windows, the walls of the first tier are decorated with heraldic lilies.

Climbing to the second tier, you will find yourself almost in the air. It seems that there are no walls here, but this is only an illusion, the whole floor consists of huge stained-glass windows, so the room is pierced through with light. This sight is especially magnificent in clear sunny weather. The two tiers of the Sainte-Chapelle are connected by a narrow staircase created during the construction of the chapel.