Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie, the other Gothic
Why this visit on this site
On 11 June 1144, the choir of Abbot Suger was consecrated at Saint-Denis. Pointed arches, ribbed vaults, open radiating chapels, and above all, glass replacing walls : Suger called this the lux nova, the new light. A century later, the Sainte-Chapelle pushed this idea to its physical limit : there is almost no wall left at all. Going from one to the other reveals an intuition and its fulfilment. See Suger and the birth of the Gothic style, and the stained glass of Saint-Denis.
There is also a darker link, on the side of the Conciergerie. It was here that Marie-Antoinette was imprisoned before her execution ; it was at Saint-Denis that her remains were brought back in January 1815, retrieved from the cimetière de la Madeleine on the orders of Louis XVIII, who had two praying funerary statues erected for her and Louis XVI. The two sites tell the two ends of the same year, 1793. The rest is on where the bodies of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette are.
What visitors say about it
Stephanie, from the United Kingdom : « As soon as I climbed the stairs and saw the stained glass, I was left breathless. » Jane, from Australia : « Photos don’t do this place justice. » Kenneth, from the United States, notes that « the audio guide was very useful and well done ». These are three typical reactions, and they all say the same thing : the Sainte-Chapelle produces an immediate effect that Saint-Denis does not. Saint-Denis requires a bit more effort, and rewards those who know what they are looking at. Detailed reviews are on the review of the combined ticket.
What works
- Two monuments in a single day-pass ticket
- The Conciergerie’s HistoPad is available in six languages
- The direct counterpoint to Suger’s choir : the same idea, a century later
- Over ten thousand reviews : the 4.4 rating is solid
Good to know
- Non-refundable
- Two monuments in the same day—it’s packed
- No practical connection with Saint-Denis : it’s the other end of Paris
- The crowds on the Île de la Cité have nothing to do with those at the necropolis
Do Saint-Denis first, then the Sainte-Chapelle, even if the reverse order is more convenient. In this direction, the Sainte-Chapelle is a conclusion. In the other, Saint-Denis might seem dull, and that would be a shame for a building that invented everything. See is it worth the detour.
Two days, not one
People sometimes ask me if it’s possible to visit both on the same day. Technically, yes: line 13 connects Saint-Denis to the centre of Paris, and the Île de la Cité isn’t far. In reality, that’s three monuments in one day, two of which are very busy, and you’ll end up looking at stained glass with leaden legs. If you only have one day, choose. If you have two, visit Saint-Denis on the morning of the first day, as the necropolis opens at 10 am, and save the Île de la Cité for the next day. Travel details are available on getting there from Paris.
Book the combined ticket
If you’re visiting several Parisian monuments, also check out the Paris Museum Pass ; and the ticket for the necropolis remains on its own page.
Frequently asked questions
Does this ticket include entry to Saint-Denis?
No. This is a combined ticket for Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie, on the Île de la Cité. For the royal necropolis, you need the necropolis ticket or the pass.
What visiting order do you recommend?
Saint-Denis first, then the Sainte-Chapelle: 1144 and a century later, the idea and its culmination. The context is on Suger and the birth of Gothic art.
Can everything be done in the same day?
It’s possible but intense: three monuments, two of which are very busy. It’s better to spread it over two days. Travel details from Paris are on getting there from Paris.
Is the ticket refundable ?
No, it is stated as non-refundable, unlike other products that can be cancelled 24 hours in advance. The full table is available on the booking hub.