The Gothic style Sainte-Chapelle (Holy Chapel) was part of the medieval Royal Palace, the residence of the Kings of France until the 14th century. Completed in 1248, it was built for the purpose of holding Christian relics, most importantly Christ's Crown of Thorns.
French King Louis IX, the future Saint-Louis, purchased the Crown of Thorns in 1239 in order to attract pilgrims to Paris. The construction of Sainte-Chapelle as a monumental reliquary was needed to exhibit a valuable relic. The chapel has two levels that clearly divided the royal family and other people working in the palace. The lower level with a low ceiling and walls covered with fresco is closer to the ground and was intended for the common people. The upper level has 15-meter walls entirely covered with stained glass telling biblical stories. The high ceiling was supposed to give the impression of the king's proximity to God. The relic was of course kept on the upper level, in a special shrine, which is now empty. Crown of Thorns is in a different location now.
