Now, walk along the southern quay of the island, round the remainder of the Palais de Justice, as far as the Boulevard du Palais. There turn to your left, and go in at the first door of the Palace on the left (undeterred by sentries) into the court of =the Sainte Chapelle=, the only important relic now remaining of the home of Saint Louis. You may safely neglect the remainder of the building. * * * * * [The thirteenth century (age of the Crusades) was a period of profound religious enthusiasm throughout Europe. Conspicuous among its devout soldiers was Louis IX, afterwards canonized as =St. Louis=. The saintly king purchased from Baldwin, Emperor of Constantinople, the veritable =Crown of Thorns=, and a fragment of the =True Cross=—paying for these relics an immense sum of money. Having become possessed of such invaluable and sacred objects, Louis desired to have them housed with suitable magnificence. He therefore entrusted one Pierre de Montereau with the task of building a splendid chapel (within the precincts of his palace), begun in 1245, and finished three years later, immediately after which the king set out on his Crusade. The monument thus breathes throughout the ecstatic piety of the mystic king; it was consecrated in 1248, in the name of the Holy Crown and the Holy Cross, by Eudes de Châteauroux, Bishop of Tusculum and papal legate. Three things should be noted about the Sainte Chapelle. (1) It is a =chapel=, not a church; therefore it consists (practically) of a choir alone, without nave or transepts. (2) It is the =domestic Chapel of the Royal Palace=. (3) It is, above all things, the =Shrine of the Crown of Thorns=. These three points must be constantly borne in mind in examining the building. Erected later than Notre-Dame, it represents the pointed style of the middle of the thirteenth century, and is singularly pure and uniform throughout. Secularized at the Revolution, it fell somewhat into decay; but was judiciously restored by Viollet-le-Duc and others. The “Messe Rouge,” or “Messe du St. Esprit,” is still celebrated here once yearly, on the re-opening of the courts after the autumn vacation, but no other religious services take place in the building. The Crown of Thorns and the piece of the True Cross are now preserved in the Treasury at Notre-Dame. Open daily, free, except Mondays, 11 to 4 or 5. Choose =a very bright day= to visit it.]