Sainte Chapelle, Le Vitrail Contemporain, CITÉ DE L'ARCHITECTURE ET PATRIMOINE

Synchronicity always plays a role when you're traveling in a foreign country. Yesterday this page fell off the wall. A reminder I should go to the stained glass exhibit at Cité de l’Architecture et Patrimoine before it closes September 21.

On Monday Angels in Paris architecture expert & Paris tour guide, ROSEMARY FLANNERY invited me to join her tour in the 5th.

We stopped to admire the angels outside SAINTE CHAPELLE. I haven't been inside since my first trip to Europe at 18, though I live a short walk away.

Yesterday seemed perfect to see SAINTE CHAPELLE in the morning and Le Vitrail Contemporain in the afternoon. 

Go as early as possible & buy tickets online to avoid standing online.

You enter the lower chapel, a confusion of people buying souvenirs. The small stairway to the upper chapel is on the right & goes almost unnoticed.

Voila!

It's difficult to get detailed shots of the glass

I shot the painted restored, patterned floors

And painted walls. Fleur de lis are everywhere.

The portico offers a chance to catch your breath.

Bear was breathless too.

 I was tempted by glass medallions and Medieval tapestry pillows. I left with a postcard.

You go out these amazing gates.

Cross the street to cafe Aux Deux Palais for a café creme and a chance to recuperate.

Then take Metro 9 to Trocadero to the CITÉ DE L'ARCHITECTURE ET PATRIMOINE.

The stained glass here is glorious!

Matisse,

Chagall, and many other renown artists.

Since 1945 France has been creating more modern art stained glass windows than any other country in the world. There are an astonishing number of churches, many needing restoration after the war.

I came home inspired to make transparent, watercolor layered, stained glass swatches, capturing the blues and reds of Sainte Chapelle. Would you like one?
Just buy a Paris letter or map subscription or renew.
Voila!