France · UNESCO Heritage Sites

3-Hour Private Medieval Paris Tour with Sainte-Chapelle and Conciergerie

3 Hours Round trip from 8 Bd du Palais Moderate pace

The journey

Trip highlights

01 Admire the mesmerizing stained glass windows of Sainte-Chapelle
02 Explore the Conciergerie, once known as the "antechamber to the guillotine"
03 Step into the medieval Palais de la Cité, former residence of the Kings of France
04 See the site linked to Christ's Crown of Thorns and Marie-Antoinette's imprisonment

When modern Paris has overwhelmed you with its boutiques, bicycles, and baguettes, step back in time at two of its most interesting and historic landmarks in the medieval Palais de la Cité, once the residence of the Kings of France. Sainte-Chapelle, with its mesmerizing stained glass windows, once housed Christ's Crown of Thorns, while the Conciergerie became the prison of Marie-Antoinette. Discover two stunning monuments from France's past: a 13th-century chapel with brilliant stained glass and a medieval royal palace that was once home to French royalty. All visitors need to pass through security checks.

Sainte-Chapelle, with its mesmerizing stained glass windows, once housed Christ's Crown of Thorns, while the Conciergerie became the prison of Marie-Antoinette.

From the itinerary

At a glance

What this trip includes

Duration 3 Hours

Tour type Private

Activity level Moderate

Accommodation Not included

Transport Not included

Wheelchair access Yes

City Paris

Languages English, French, Italian, Romanian

Day by day

The itinerary

Day 01

Sainte-Chapelle on the Île de la Cité

We meet at the gate of Sainte-Chapelle. Standing proudly on the Île de la Cité, this intimate chapel and UNESCO World Heritage Site was consecrated on April 26, 1248. It was commissioned by King Louis IX, who wanted a fitting place to house his collection of religious relics, including Christ's Crown of Thorns.

Day 02

La Conciergerie and Its Revolutionary Past

We continue the tour with a short stroll and a visit to the Conciergerie. This medieval royal palace was abandoned by the Kings of France at the end of the 14th century, after which it became a prison and revolutionary tribunal. It was one of the principal places of detention during the French Revolution, when it was known as "the antechamber to the guillotine." That description was certainly true in the case of its most famous resident, former Queen Marie-Antoinette. As you wander through the Salle des Gardes (Guards' Room) and the immense Salle des Gens d'armes (Hall of the Soldiers), consider how she must have felt being imprisoned here. Her commemorative chapel was later erected on the site of her cell during the renovation.