day 1 continued: sainte chappelle, pont neuf, and more.

Next on the list for my first day in Paris was a visit to the incomparable Sainte Chappelle. I had heard it was pretty, but nothing prepared me for how monumentally gorgeous the chapel was.

Consecrated in the year 1248, the church is a Gothic masterpiece. It was built to house holy relics, including Christ's crown of thorns. Sainte Chappelle has been called (and perhaps rightfully so) "one of the greatest architectural masterpieces of the Western world," at least according to several of my guidebooks. Next to India's Taj Mahal and the skyline of Manhattan, it is indeed one of the most beautiful man-made sights I have witnessed.

The church is built in two stories. The bottom half was for the common folk. Decorated with incredibly rich hues of red, blue and gold, this worship area is magnificent. Painted stars hover against the blue ceilings, giving those inside the feeling of floating in space. Columns and arches are painted red with gold details. The colors are astounding, and must have been astonishing for the commoners who came here in the drab years of the middle ages.

It is the upper level reserved for royalty, however, that has made the chapel famous. Beautiful stained glass windows that are an incredible 50 feet long portray over 1,000 religious scenes including Genesis, Christ's Passion and a rose window depicting the Apocalypse. These windows serve as a visual Bible, telling the stories of the Old and New Testaments with grace, dignity and artistic mastery.

Even the floors are decorated, covered in colored tiles that have glittering centers that depict things like castles. I stood rooted in one spot, looking at each tile around me, amazed at how unique each and every one was.

If you haven't seen photographs of Sainte Chappelle, I highly recommend looking some up online. This is a place that one has to see in order to believe. I was so enchanted with it that I almost believed I was suspended somewhere in heaven.

The chapel is located very close to another famous spot which I visited, Conciergerie. Originally a medival building, it was used during the Revolution as a prison. Marie Antoinette was one of the building's famous prisoners.

It was expensive to get in and honestly not very worth it. It was mildly interesting to see a reconstruction of the ill fated queen's holding cell, and the impressive Salle des Gens d'Armes was striking. However, I wouldn't recommend paying the bloated entry fee to see the place. The vibes were bad, the general atmosphere was horribly depressing, and it kind of sucked to walk around in a carefree manner over the floors where hundreds of people had once paced waiting their executions.

I do heartily recommend a stop at the Crypte Archeologique, which is based at the entrance of Notre Dame. It stretches 393 feet underground, and contains the ruins of ancient Paris. Traces of the ancient Parisii settlement that existed 2000 years ago are here, as well as Roman ruins and an old street that was demolished several hundred years ago. It is an accessible and enlightening place to visit, and it is exciting to get so close to history.

Another Ile de Cite sight worth seeing is the Pont Neuf. This bridge is the oldest in Paris and has been immortalized in books and art for centuries. An imposing statue of Henri IV stands in the middle of the bridge. I highly suggest a stroll over the bridge. It has a wonderful vantage point and it's fun to wave at all the boats that chug underneath.

Finally, the Square Jean XXIII is a charming spot for a picnic lunch and the Flower Market has some interesting floral specimens.

I adored this part of Paris, and found the small size, easy to navigate streets and tourist friendly cafes added bonuses.