Sainte Chappelle

The travel posts kick off here with one of the oldest sites we visited in Paris, the magnificent 12th century Sainte Chappelle.  These are not necessarily the best photos I took on the trip (it was very dim inside and I didn't schlep a tripod with me..that camera is heavy enough!).  One of my goals of our trip was to see the stained glass at Chartres.  Due to illness, we didn't make that day trip out of Paris, so I insisted we substitute in Sainte Chapelle.

A fine Gothic ceiling

Built in only 6 years for King Louis IX* so that he could showcase his purchase of the Crown of Thorns, the entire church appears made of glass. The late afternoon light was bright enough to illuminate the panels, but to be inside on a sunny day in the height of summer would be truly amazing.  Each of the 15 stained glass panels depict Biblical stories.

The alter was very ornate and accessed by two spiral staircases: one for the King, the other for the Priest. Louis made sure he'd tower well above his court, worshiping below.  

The floor was well worth a study, too!

  

I was fascinated in each cathedral we visited with the ornate carvings, glasswork and woodwork. Not to mention the locks, window latches and doorknobs (mosaic of those detail shots is in the works).

It was hard to photograph the stained glass so high up on the walls with a hand-held camera, but here's one detail shot.

Which leads me to my latest thread collection for Lynne's Aurifil Designer Thread contest.  I swear, I can't stop! May I present the Sainte Chappelle Collection:

*NOTE: Our Paris guidebook of choice was Rick Steve's Paris 2012. An excellent book small enough to take along every day, but packed with information, hand drawn maps, fantastic walking tours, great restaurant & market recommendations, not to mention top tips for avoiding lineups and bored kids.  When I write details about the age of certain monuments, who built them, what they were for..etc. all of that info is courtesy of Rick. He really did his homework.