The colored gemstones tapestry of the Sainte Chapelle stained glass windows. Photo © Art Journey Paris.
A journey to Middle Ages Paris with a private tour of the Sainte Chapelle.
Sainte Chapelle private tour
A tapestry of light, the stained glass windows of the Sainte Chapelle. Photo © Art Journey Paris.
A new style of architecture, where the walls became luminous tapestries of color, turning windows into illustrated scripture was invented in the 12th century, in Saint Denis Basilica. But its most striking example is the Sainte Chapelle, whose walls are almost entirely made of stained glass windows.
Conceived to house the Crown of Thorns, the Royal chapel is in fact an immense shrine, a gem-set reliquary made of colored glass and stone instead of gold and gems. The stained glass windows are a preview of Heavenly Jerusalem, depicted as "made of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone".
Like the medieval visitor who described "such degree of beauty that entering it one feels like being taken to heaven and imagines being introduced into one of Paradise's most beautiful rooms", we will enter a gigantic light box, and wonder at the light passing through the stained glass windows.
Discover the wonder of a building made of light with a Sainte Chapelle private tour.
Notre Dame cathedral private guided visit
December 2024, the interior of Notre Dame restored and magnificent. The restoration is still ongoing, and will last until 2028. Photo © Art Journey Paris.
After discovering the Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie, we marvel at Notre-Dame Cathedral. We will:
- Discuss the architecture, the forces above us, who were the architects, and how long it took to build.
- Discover how many times Notre-Dame's fate hung in the balance, from the French Revolution to German bombing in 1918.
- Realize how close to disaster it came that tragic night of the 2019 fire.
But end the tour with a newfound appreciation for 'Gothic' architecture, and the valor of the firefighters, men and women who saved Notre-Dame, as well as the excellent restoration work that is still undergoing.
Visit Notre Dame Towers
Since the towers have reopened, we can do a private tour that includes the Sainte-Chapelle and Notre-Dame, including the cathedral's interior, and, with prior reservation, the towers.
Please be advised that there are 424 steps to climb to the top of the Notre-Dame tower, which can be relatively narrow at times, so a certain degree of fitness is required.
Combined Sainte Chapelle & Notre Dame private tour
A half-day private guided tour of the Sainte-Chapelle, and Notre Dame cathedral with priority access to the Sainte-Chapelle; led by an officially licensed art historian guide.
1 to 2 people - 500 €
3 to 5 people - 650 €
Family (two adults, up to 3 children) - 500 €
The fee includes entrance tickets with skip-the-line priority access to the Sainte-Chapelle for professional guides. Please ask as early as feasible to obtain a timed reservation.
The visit includes :
- the Sainte-Chapelle with reserved entry.
- the Conciergerie, the former Royal Palace of France which later became a prison, where Marie-Antoinette was jailed.
- Notre-Dame cathedral's interior.
Please inquire about adding a visit of Notre Dame Towers, which are now reopened!
Contact
To inquire about a private tour of the Sainte-Chapelle and Notre-Dame cathedral with an officially certified guide, please mention the date of the visit as well as the number of participants, using the form below, thank you.
Discover the story of Notre-Dame and medieval wonders:
Notre Dame, A Story Of Genius, Survival And Wonder
Who Designed Notre Dame De Paris ? How did the catheral survive the Revolution, the first and second world wars, and the 2019 fire?
Discover why Notre Dame de Paris is a wonder.
Amiens, the Largest Cathedral of France, twice as big as Notre-Dame de Paris.
The story of Notre Dame of Amiens Cathedral, the biggest French cathedral, how it was built, its use of iron, and how it survived world wars.
Discover the Largest Cathedral of France, Amiens.
Birth of 'Gothic', the Architecture of Light at Saint Denis Basilica
Why using the name of Goths barbarians to described the architecture of Notre Dame and the great cathedrals?
Discover what Gothic means and where it was born.
The Apocalypse of Angers, the largest narrative tapestry in the world.
The Tapestry of the Apocalypse, a World Heritage masterpiece, the Sistine Chapel of the Middle Ages.
Discover the story of the Tapestry of the Apocalypse.
More Information About A Sainte Chapelle & Notre Dame private tour
The Sainte Chapelle - On the île de la Cité, open every day from 9 am till 5 pm in winter or 7 pm in summer.
Sainte Chapelle entrance tickets - Being officially recognised we of course visit the Sainte Chapelle with a reservation time, in other words the method to Skip the Line, that is having an officially qualified guide taking care of both the tickets and reservation for you.
The entrance tickets are extra, are free for children, and we need advance notice to request a reservation time for the Sainte Chapelle.
The Conciergerie. Photo © Art Journey Paris.
The Conciergerie
The Sainte Chapelle, as Royal Chapel, was part of the Conciergerie, the King's palace in Paris. On the same location of the center of power since the days of the Roman Empire, the Conciergerie was the main Royal residence in Paris, before the Kings moved to the nearby Louvre.
The Conciergerie then became an infamous prison, where Queen Marie Antoinette was held and judged. Visiting the Conciergerie would be an ideal part of a medieval day visit.
Medieval art day visit
These two monuments are likely to ignite your interest in medieval art so we can also take you to the medieval treasures of the Louvre with our Medieval Louvre tour or the Middle Ages Museum, Cluny; and a forgotten but amazing treasure, the Saint Denis Basilica where most French Kings are buried... It can also be an amazing monument that gets almost no foreign visitors, Vincennes castle, bordering Paris.
The Dungeon of the Royal Castle of Vincennes, easily accessible from Paris, which can be visited as part of a full day private tour. Photo © Art Journey Paris.
Parisian firefighters fund
With the funding for the restoration of Notre Dame and rebuilding of its roof secured, let us not forget the 400 men and women who actually saved the cathedral, risking their lives in the process, the firefighters.
If you wish to thank them, please make a donation to the Oeuvres Sociales des Pompiers de Paris, the official Paris firefighters charitable fund, to help them and their families. Note that the website is only in French. Please visit the Parisian Firefighters Charitable Works website.
Photo tours of the medieval monuments of Paris
We can also combine a photographic tour of the masterpieces of medieval architecture with our private tour of the Saint Chapelle. To give you an idea of the sites and photos that can be taken, please visit either our Art Journey Flickr, and Instagram.
Please ask in advance about taking photos of the Sainte Chapelle and the medieval monuments of Paris.