The chapel's overall architectural harmony—from its soaring walls and slender columns to its light-filled interior—became a guiding influence for subsequent Gothic cathedrals. While many later Gothic buildings, such as Notre-Dame or Chartres, expanded on the principles set out at Sainte-Chapelle, the innovative design and artistic achievements of the chapel set a new standard for the Gothic style, solidifying its place as a key moment in the evolution of medieval architecture.
Stained glass dominates 75% of the upper chapel's surface area, making the walls almost entirely composed of glass. This was an architectural innovation of the Gothic Rayonnant style, emphasizing light and color to create a heavenly atmosphere.
Like many Gothic churches, Sainte-Chapelle employs flying buttresses—external supports that distribute the weight of the structure, allowing the walls to be thin and filled with glass. These buttresses are less pronounced in Sainte-Chapelle compared to other Gothic cathedrals, as the chapel is relatively small, but they are still integral to the building's structural integrity.
The chapel features ribbed vaulting, a hallmark of Gothic architecture, which helps distribute the weight of the roof. This system allows for more slender and higher ceilings, giving the chapel its airy, ethereal feel.
The use of pointed arches helps to achieve a tall, vertical interior. These arches allow for larger windows and give the chapel its characteristic soaring height, directing attention upwards towards the heavens.
The spire of Sainte-Chapelle rises high above the roof, accentuating the chapel's soaring verticality. The spire is one of the defining features of the building's silhouette, adding to the Gothic style's focus on reaching toward the heavens. The spire's graceful form makes it an important exterior element that should not be overlooked.
The pinnacles and gables along the roofline are another key exterior feature. These slender, vertical elements contribute to the chapel’s elegant and towering silhouette. Pinnacles are placed at the tops of the flying buttresses and at the corners of the chapel’s roof, reinforcing the upward-reaching design typical of Gothic architecture. The gables also feature intricate details that add texture and ornamentation to the exterior.
Sainte-Chapelle is a two-level chapel, which was an unusual architectural choice that allowed for differentiation between the social classes:
One of the most striking features of Sainte-Chapelle is its emphasis on height and light. The chapel’s design is based on the principle that light, especially when filtered through the stained glass windows, brings the divine into the earthly realm.
The nave of the upper chapel soars to a height of about 20 meters (66 feet). Its vaulted ceiling is a prime example of the Rayonnant Gothic style, with complex, pointed ribbed arches designed to draw the viewer's eyes upward. The ribs and the spires seem to almost “stretch” towards heaven.
The walls are nearly entirely made of stained glass, leaving very little room for solid stone construction. This feature helps create the effect of light-filled walls, with the windows casting vibrant colors and illuminating the interior.
The stained glass windows of Sainte-Chapelle are undoubtedly the most famous aspect of its architecture. They cover nearly 600 square meters of the chapel’s walls and depict over 1,100 scenes from the Bible.
The windows are rich in color—blues, reds, yellows, and greens—creating a spectacular kaleidoscope of light. The red and blue hues are particularly dominant, symbolizing the sacred and divine.
The grandeur of the stained glass windows
In addition to the long, vertical windows, the west facade of Sainte-Chapelle is dominated by a large rose window. Added in the late 15th century, the rose window is an outstanding example of Flamboyant Gothic style, which evolved from Rayonnant Gothic. It is much more complex and ornamented than the earlier windows.
The rose window’s design reflects the idea of divine order and cosmic harmony, with Christ at the center, radiating light and knowledge outward toward the faithful.
The vaulted ceiling of the Upper Chapel is painted deep blue with gold stars, symbolizing the celestial heavens. This design creates a spiritual atmosphere, drawing the worshipper’s eyes upward to connect with the divine.
The 15 stained-glass windows in the upper chapel depict over 1,100 biblical scenes. These windows were intended to educate the largely illiterate medieval population by narrating stories from Genesis, Exodus, and the life of Christ, as well as the Apocalypse.
Unlike many Gothic chapels, Sainte-Chapelle uses an unprecedented ratio of glass to stone. The design prioritizes stained-glass artistry over heavy masonry, giving it an ethereal, almost weightless quality.
The flying buttresses of Sainte-Chapelle are discreetly integrated into the structure, unlike the dramatic, external buttresses seen in larger Gothic cathedrals like Notre-Dame. Their subtle design ensures the chapel’s visual focus remains on its stained-glass windows.
The Flamboyant Gothic rose window on the west facade, added in the 15th century, depicts scenes from the Apocalypse. Its intricate tracery and vivid stained glass represent a later evolution of Gothic architectural styles.
While smaller than iconic Gothic cathedrals like Notre-Dame, Sainte-Chapelle achieves an unparalleled sense of grandeur and lightness. Its focus on verticality, stained-glass artistry, and minimal masonry makes it a jewel of Gothic architecture rather than a traditional monumental structure.
