[Paris] Catedral Saint Chapelle
It was commissioned by King Louis IX of France to house his collection of Passion relics
- Construction began sometime after 1238 and the chapel was consecrated on 26 April 1248.
- Sainte-Chapelle, as both a symbol of religion and royalty, was a prime target for vandalism during the French Revolution.
The relics and the reliquary
The principal relics for which the chapel was built were the crown of thorns, believed to have been worn by Christ during his Passion, and a small piece of the cross on which he was crucified. These were found in Constantinople, which had been captured by the Crusaders in 1204, and was then ruled by Baudouin II of Cortenay.
1805 - Relics of Passion transferred to: