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.

Examine the exterior in detail from the court on the south side. More even
than most Gothic buildings, the Sainte Chapelle is supported entirely by
its massive piers, the wall being merely used for enclosure, and
consisting for the most part of lofty windows. As in most French Gothic
buildings, the choir terminates in a round apse, whereas English
cathedrals have usually a square end. The beautiful light fleche or spire
in the center has been restored. Observe the graceful leaden angel,
holding a cross, on the summit of the chevet or round apse. To see the
facade, stand well back opposite it, where you can observe that the chapel
is built in four main stories--those, namely, of the Lower Church or
crypt, of the Upper Church, of the great rose window (with later
flamboyant tracery), and of the gable-end, partially masked by an open
parapet studded with the royal fleurs-de-lis of France. The Crown of
Thorns surrounds the two pinnacles which flank the fourth story.

The chapel consists of a lower and an upper church. The Lower Church is a
mere crypt, which was employed for the servants of the royal family. Its