European Heritage Days 2026: discovering Sainte-Chapelle, Paris’s monument of a thousand stained-glass windows

Take advantage of the new edition of Heritage Days to step inside the magnificent Sainte-Chapelle, this architectural gem of the capital built in the 13th century. On Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026, come learn more about this hidden edifice, built to guard the Crown of Thorns of Christ.

Every year, the Heritage Days offer a superb chance to rediscover a hidden heritage, sometimes overlooked... For two days, the French are invited to step into museums, churches or even castles to learn more about these unique places through self-guided or guided tours, or sometimes even activities.

Heritage Days 2026 in Paris (75): the program of visits to explore by arrondissement
Heritage Days are back in Paris in 2026. The capital’s monuments and historic landmarks open their doors (often free of charge) to reveal their secrets to us. Don’t miss this must-attend event, slated for the weekend of September 19–20, 2026, with the themes: “Heritage in Peril” and “The Heritage of Photography.” [Read more]

Heritage Days 2026: the finest churches in Paris and Île-de-France open their doors to you.
Thanks to this new edition of Heritage Days, the churches, chapels and cathedrals of Paris and Île-de-France reveal their secrets to us this weekend, September 19–20, 2026. [Read more]

If there's one monument to visit during Heritage Days on Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026, it's certainly the Sainte-Chapelle, located on Boulevard du Palais, and tucked away from the public behind the walls of the Palais de la Cité, between the Palais de Justice and the Court of Cassation.

During the European Heritage Days, you can explore this stunning monument at your leisure. Located just 300 metres from Notre-Dame de Paris, this Gothic monument is nevertheless one of the capital’s treasures: built in the 13th century, the Sainte-Chapelle is renowned worldwide for its 1,113 stained-glass windows, which reveal more than a thousand scenes and bathe the interior in light from every side.

Beyond its religious significance, the Sainte-Chapelle is also an architectural treasure: the 33-metre-long, 42.5-metre-high monument, with its 1,113 stained glass windows, took just seven years to build between 1241 and 1248. Its spire, reconstructed in the 19th century, rises seventy-five meters above the ground.

The Sainte-Chapelle and its 1113 stained-glass windows, a true Gothic jewel in Paris
The Sainte-Chapelle is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful buildings in Paris, with its 1113 colorful stained-glass windows depicting scenes from the Old and New Testaments. This 800-year-old Gothic gem becomes a magical place under the sun. [Read more]

The 2026 Heritage Days lineup at Sainte-Chapelle in Paris:

Sainte-Chapelle: self-guided tour
Self-guided tour of the venue
Participation terms: Limited capacity - Free | No reservation required
Hours: Saturday, September 19, 2026 – 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM | Sunday, September 20, 2026 – 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM

An architectural masterpiece that you can (re)discover for free in Paris on September 19 and 20, 2026 as part of these new Journées du Patrimoine.