Attraction · Paris · Updated on 1 November 2026.

Sainte-Chapelle in Paris

Sainte-Chapelle is an attraction in Paris, France. This place has an audio tour of about 2 minutes, in English or Dutch. 16 of the 50 well-known points of interest nearby are within 1 km. Within 410 m you'll find a public toilet, a bench, a water point and a bike pump.

Directions in Google Maps

The story

Wikipedia ↗Official website ↗

Audio tour · Sainte-Chapelle

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You're standing at the Sainte-Chapelle, the Holy Chapel, on the Île de la Cité. From the outside it almost disappears among the big buildings of the Palace of Justice. That's no surprise: it was once part of the palace of the kings of France. Together with the Conciergerie, it's one of the few pieces of that palace still standing.

Read and hear the whole story in the Outdoor Pitstop app: check in at this place and it is yours (with Pro; new users are Pro for the first 4 weeks).

Opening hours and admission

Opening hours: Jan-Mar 09:00-17:00; Apr-Sep 09:00-19:00; Oct-Dec 09:00-17:00
Admission: Paid
Wheelchair: Accessible

Source: OpenStreetMap and Wikidata.

Photos

10 photos from Wikimedia Commons. In the app you add your own photo when you are there.

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Photo: Mathae · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

Sainte-Chapelle in Paris: chapel built for the Crown of Thorns

Sainte-Chapelle in Paris is a chapel dating from 1248 that is now a museum. The king had it built to house his most precious possession: the Crown of Thorns, as it was believed to be, along with other relics (sacred objects). The chapel belonged to the palace of the kings. You will find it on the Île de la Cité at Boulevard du Palais 8. Nearby are the Pont Neuf at 352 metres, Notre-Dame at 448 metres and La Samaritaine at 475 metres. Visit on a sunny day if you can, as the stained glass is at its most striking then.

What you can see at Sainte-Chapelle

From the outside, the chapel almost disappears among the large buildings around it. The exterior is quite plain, without the flying buttresses you see on other churches. Hidden iron chains and rods keep the tall building upright. Above the roof rises a wooden spire of 33 metres. Inside, you first enter the low lower chapel, full of red, blue and gold. It was intended for the staff of the palace. Narrow spiral staircases take you up to the upper chapel, where in the past only the royal family came. Here the walls seem to be made almost entirely of glass. There are around 670 square metres of stained glass, and much of it is centuries old. When the sun shines, the space fills with coloured light. Look for the window that shows the king bringing the relics in barefoot. The relic itself is no longer on view here, as it now lies in Notre-Dame. Visit on a sunny day if you can, as the glass is then easier to see.

The history of the Sainte-Chapelle

The king bought the relics, paying 135,000 livres for them. The chapel itself cost only 40,000 livres. The architect, Peter de Montreuil, built it in the rayonante gotiek style, and it was consecrated in 1248. When the relics arrived in Paris, the king carried the last stretch himself, barefoot. Later, things went wrong. The wooden spire is now the fifth, as earlier ones were lost to fire and during the upheaval of that period. In that period the chapel became a grain store and many relics were scattered. Together with the Conciergerie, the chapel is one of the few parts of the royal palace that survive. Between 2008 and 2015, all the windows were cleaned and better protected. Visit the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris on a sunny day, when coloured light fills the room.

Visiting Sainte-Chapelle: tickets and accessibility

Entry to this chapel is paid, so you will need a ticket to go inside. The official website of the chapel is sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr. There you will find up-to-date information, including how to buy a ticket. The chapel is accessible by wheelchair, so if you use a wheelchair you can visit the chapel without any problem. You will need the website address for all practical information about your visit. Please check the details on the website before you set off.

Toilets, drinking water and benches nearby

Public toilets are close by. The nearest one is 40 metres away, at Cour de la Sainte-Chapelle, and it is free to use. There are 15 public toilets within 500 metres of the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris. Benches are also close at hand. The nearest bench is 57 metres away, on Boulevard du Palais, and there are 267 benches within 500 metres. For drinking water, head to Quai Saint-Michel, 204 metres away, where you can fill a bottle. There are 20 water points within 500 metres of the Sainte-Chapelle. If you are cycling, a free bike pump is located 414 metres away, on Rue Serpente. It is the only bike pump within 500 metres.

Walking and more to see nearby

After your visit, you can carry on on foot. Pont Neuf, Notre-Dame and La Samaritaine each have an audio story in the Outdoor Pitstop app. Keep walking and you reach the Centre Georges Pompidou after 789 metres, a museum with an audio story. The Musée du Louvre is 878 metres away and also has an audio story. If you want to walk a little further, the Institut du Monde arabe is 1,148 metres away, and this museum also has an audio story. There is also a 2-minute audio story about the Sainte-Chapelle itself. You can listen to it in the app on the spot, so you hear the story of the chapel while you are standing in it.

Facilities near Sainte-Chapelle

The nearest pitstop of each kind within 1 km, as the crow flies. No honesty box within 1 km.

Well-known points of interest nearby

50 well-known points of interest nearby, those with an audio tour first. 16 of the 50 well-known points of interest nearby are within 1 km.

AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Pont Neuf · 350 m

Photo: Rmrfstar · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

AttractionAudio story · 2 min

Cathedral of Notre Dame · 450 m

Photo: P e z i · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

AttractionAudio story · 2 min

La Samaritaine · 470 m

Photo: Adrian Scottow · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 2.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

MuseumAudio story · 2 min

Centre Pompidou · 790 m

Photo: Zairon · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

MuseumAudio story · 2 min

Louvre Museum · 880 m

Photo: Benh LIEU SONG · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.5View the photo on Wikimedia Commons

Hear the story of Pont Neuf on the spot with the app

All 394 points of interest in Paris →

Also within walking distance

The 10 nearest points of interest with a story, within 2 km.

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Frequently asked questions

Is it free to visit the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris?

No, entry to the Sainte-Chapelle is paid. You can use the official website sainte-chapelle.monuments-nationaux.fr for more information.

What is the history of the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris?

The Sainte-Chapelle is a chapel on the Île de la Cité in Paris, which was consecrated in 1248. It was built to house sacred relics, including ones from Constantinopel.

What can I see when I visit the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris?

In the upper chapel you can see about 670 square metres of stained glass. You also visit the lower chapel, which is full of red, blue and gold.

Where can I find a toilet near the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris?

The nearest public toilet is 40 metres from the Sainte-Chapelle, at Cour de la Sainte-Chapelle, and it is free. Within 500 metres there are 15 public toilets in total.

Where can I get drinking water near the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris?

The nearest water point is 204 metres from the Sainte-Chapelle, at Quai Saint-Michel, and is suitable for filling a bottle. Within 500 metres there are 20 water points.

Are there any benches near the Sainte-Chapelle in Paris?

Yes, the nearest bench is 57 metres from the Sainte-Chapelle, at Boulevard du Palais. Within 500 metres there are 267 benches.