Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Saint-Chapelle de Vincennes

The royal chapel at Vincennes stands just a hundred meters across the yard from the chateau. It began during the later Gothic era--its architect was Pierre Montereau, of Saint-Chapelle fame in both Paris and St. Germain-en-Laye--but was not completed until the mid-16th century. It certainly bears close resemblance to the other two royal chapels, although larger and on a single floor.
View from the chateau















Side view















Nave view




















Nave view from choir




















Chancel windows; the originals were
destroyed in the Revolution





















Other windows




















Nice, if modern




















Ceiling















Rose window above choir















Apart from the aesthetic and architectural
interest, what's notable about the Saint-
Chapelle at Vincennes is this, the tomb/
monument of Louis Antoine, Duke of
Enghien, aka by some as Louis XVIII; he
was captured in the Rhineland, tried on
trumped-up charges, executed by firing
squad in the chateau moat, and buried in
a plain grave in the moat; all at Napoleon's
behest; all the monarchs of Europe had been
willing to cut Napoleon some slack--he was
certainly better in their eyes than the
Revolution; but with this execution of the
last of the Bourbon/Conde line, their hearts
hardened, so to speak; in 1815, Louis XVIII's
remains were restored to the Saint-Chapelle

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