Back to Paris: La Sainte Chapelle
La Sainte Chapelle was built in the Middle Ages to house Saint Louis' collection of Holy Relics. He had quite an assortment, a sort of Whitman's Sampler of bones, bits of cloth, vials of blood and the Virgin's breast milk (bet you didn't know the Virgin pumped, did you?), and best of all, the original crown of throrns. Louis felt he was getting a really good deal there, since he'd been able to have it authenticated all the way back to the third century AD.
I hear he bought some swampland in Florida, too. And there's this bridge...
You used to be able to go see the relics, including the crown, in the chapel's treasury, but I hear tell they only bring it out on Easter now.
The chapel is part of the judiciary complex, which also houses the prison of the Conciergerie. So Louis could go to church without ever having to leave the office. Sort of a fast-food drive-through for religion. McPrayer, anyone?
The chapel and the prison are the only parts that date back to Louis' day. The courthouse is from a later period, and is still in use, which is why we had to go through a security checkpoint to get in.
Here are the pictures!
I hear he bought some swampland in Florida, too. And there's this bridge...
You used to be able to go see the relics, including the crown, in the chapel's treasury, but I hear tell they only bring it out on Easter now.
The chapel is part of the judiciary complex, which also houses the prison of the Conciergerie. So Louis could go to church without ever having to leave the office. Sort of a fast-food drive-through for religion. McPrayer, anyone?
The chapel and the prison are the only parts that date back to Louis' day. The courthouse is from a later period, and is still in use, which is why we had to go through a security checkpoint to get in.
Here are the pictures!