Sainte-Chapelle epitomizes the style of French High Gothic architecture.
The chapel was built by Louis IX between 1241-1248 as a palace chapel to house the precious relic of the Crown of Thorns which disappeared during the French Revolution.
The church is built on two levels, a lower chapel (shown in another image) which served as a church for the palace inhabitants, and the upper church shown here, for royalty.
The upper church is characteristic of French High Gothic architecture. Buttresses on the exterior enabled the builders to open up the walls for stained glass.
The glass shows Biblical images, symbolically flooding the interior with the "Light of God" as it passes through the Holy images.