The Sainte-Chapelle and the Conciergerie are all that remains of the original royal palace located on the Île de la Cité. In the mid-14th century King Charles V moved the royal residence to the Louvre, leaving the royal administration, including the judiciary, on the island. The nation’s highest court of civil and criminal appeal is still located there. The Sainte Chapelle was built by King Louis IX (Saint Louis) to house relics of the Passion of Christ. The most famous of these was the Crown of Thorns, which King Louis IX purchased from the emperor of Constantinople in 1239 for a sum that greatly exceeded the cost of building the chapel. After the Revolution, the Crown was kept in the treasury of Notre-Dame. It was miraculously saved during the fire. This richly illustrated lecture will cover the architecture, interior decoration, and stained-glass windows of the Sainte-Chapelle, followed by the fascinating history and architecture of the Conciergerie.

Sunday, April 12 | 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM | $35
In person and simulcast