Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie Tickets
Highlights
- Step back in history at 2 of Paris' most iconic attractions: Conciergerie and Sainte-Chapelle.
- First, explore Conciergerie, a medieval royal palace turned revolutionary prison that held important figures like Marie-Antoinette in captivity.
- Later, marvel at the gothic architecture and the breathtaking stained glass windows depicting scenes from the Bible at Sainte-Chapelle.
- Fun fact: From the altar, Saint-Louis showed the relics to the Parisians every year on Good Friday.
When the modern city of Paris—with its shops, bikes, and bakeries—becomes too much, journey back in time to two of its most captivating historic sites within the medieval Palais de la Cité, once home to French royalty. Sainte-Chapelle, celebrated for its breathtaking stained glass, once housed the Crown of Thorns, while the Conciergerie served as the prison for Marie-Antoinette!
Conciergerie
Your journey begins here, at this medieval royal palace. The French kings left it behind in the late 14th century, preferring the Louvre and Vincennes, and it was then transformed into a prison and revolutionary court. During the French Revolution, it became one of the main detention centers, earning the nickname "the antechamber to the guillotine."
This was especially true for its most famous inmate, former queen Marie Antoinette. As you explore the Guards Room and the vast Hall of the Soldiers, imagine what she must have felt while held captive here. A commemorative chapel now stands where her cell once was, built during renovations.
Sainte-Chapelle
After exploring the Conciergerie, continue to Sainte-Chapelle, located proudly on the Île de la Cité. This small chapel, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was consecrated on April 26, 1248. King Louis IX commissioned it as a fitting home for his religious relics, including Christ's Crown of Thorns.
This Gothic chapel is famous for its 15 stunning stained glass windows, which illustrate 1,113 scenes from the Old and New Testaments, plus a panel depicting the arrival of the relics in Paris, with the church's patron, King Louis, prominently featured. On a sunny day, the light filtering through these windows makes you forget every rainy day Paris has ever had.