Things to Do Near Sainte Chapelle

The Panthéon Paris was originally designed by architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot as the Church of Sainte-Geneviève and completed in 1757. A huge dome stands at the centre of this cross-shaped building, while four smaller domes in the shape of saucers are topped by sloping roofs. The facade features a portico with Corinthian columns and a triangular pediment at the end of the eastern wing, reminiscent of the Roman Pantheon. Finding yourself surrounded by mosaics and paintings commemorating significant episodes in French history is an eerie experience.

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The 336 projectors, each housing a high-pressure, yellow-orange sodium bulb, were unveiled on December 31, 1985, by lighting expert Pierre Bideau and electrician John McLaughlin at Eiffel Tower. This type of lighting, which has won widespread acclaim, has helped revitalise monuments in France and elsewhere around the world at night. Seeing the light beams illuminate the cathedral from below is one of the most breathtaking things to do near Sainte Chapelle. They changed out the 1,290 working projectors that illuminated the Tower from the outside until it was permanently closed to the public in 2009, illuminating the areas frequented by late-night visitors and highlighting the magnificent metallic framework of the monument.

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The Conciergerie, which was built between the 10th and 14th centuries and served as the royal residence and parliament building for France, was transformed into one of the most notorious prisons of its time in 1392. Since the prison was in charge of the palace while the king was away, the French word for housekeeper's quarters was adopted as the prison's official name. Learning about the inhumane treatment of prisoners at the Conciergerie while they awaited execution at the Place de la Concorde is one of the knowledgeable things to do near Sainte Chapelle if you have free access to the building.

The Catacombs of Paris are a unique attraction and visiting them is one of the prime things to do near Sainte Chapelle. They are underground burial chambers, and are only a small section of a tunnel system built to integrate Paris' old stone quarries, but they hold the skeletons of over six million people. With your ticket to the Paris Catacombs in hand, you can skip the long lines and go straight to the ossuaries. At a depth of 65 feet, you'll find a maze of tunnels that hold the skeletal remains of millions of people and an audio guide to lead you through the experience.

Taking a Seine river cruise is one of the popular things to do near Sainte Chapelle. The Louvre, the Eiffel Tower, the Museum of Fine Arts, and Notre Dame de Paris are just some of the sites that can be seen from the river on these brief Seine River cruises. Many of the most famous and historically significant buildings, bridges, and monuments in Paris can be seen from the Seine. Views of the city's past, present, and future architecture may all be appreciated from the river. The banks of the Seine in Paris have been recognised as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO since 1991. A cruise along the Seine may seem daunting to choose from due to the abundance of similar tours presented by different companies, but the effort will be well worth it.

In order to see all of the masterpieces at the Louvre museum, one of the things to do near Sainte Chapelle is to take a tour of the museum at night. Seeing one of the city's most renowned museums, the Louvre, at night is a must. After all, the atmosphere changes dramatically at night, when there are fewer people around and a sense of seclusion prevails. It's easy to see why the Louvre is so well-liked once you step foot inside; the sculptures take on a whole new feel when they're lit up. One of the best parts of going to the Louvre at night is seeing the glass pyramid outside the main entrance all lit up and shining brightly. It's true that the sun sets later in the fall and winter in Paris than it does in the spring and summer, but that's only because of the season.

If you're still thirsty for French history after visiting the Eiffel Tower, Louvre, and tomb of Napoleon, then one of the most satisfying things to do near Sainte Chapelle is to visit the majestic Palace of Versailles. You can drive there from Paris in a day, and once you get there, you'll find a massive estate that lives up to every expectation you might have for a royal palace. Built in the 1600s as Louis XIII's hunting lodge, the chateau is now on the list of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. Both the palace and the gardens have become extremely popular tourist destinations. The Hall of Mirrors and the Gallery of the History of the Palace are two must-see attractions.

King Louis XIV had a royal mass celebrated in the Dôme des Invalides, and in the nineteenth century, it housed the Tomb of Napoleon I. During World War II, it provided a haven for allied airmen. Today, learning about the history of Sainte Chapelle and the many functions it has served is one of the best things to do near Sainte Chapelle.

It has been said many times before, but it bears repeating that the best place in Paris to see the sunrise is from Trocadéro. Taking pictures of the Iron Lady from this spot behind the iron structure, where the sunlight is reflected off the structure in a rainbow of colours, is one of the most rewarding best things to do near Sainte Chapelle. If you want to get some great photos of Paris, you should go to Trocadéro first thing in the morning instead of waiting until sunset. To avoid the crowds and make the most of your time in Paris, wander down along the Seine at sunset!