Sainte-Chappelle, the must-see Paris medieval chapel with the most incredible display of floor-to-ceiling wall-to-wall stained glass windows, is even grander these days; it’s just completed a seven-year project to carefully clean and restore every one of thousands of panes of colored glass, dating back to the 1200s.
Some of the dirt was nearly that old, too. It has been centuries since the windows were fully cleaned. In addition to the cleaning, the lead fittings and frames were cleaned and repainted, and in some cases replaced with clear material. During the work, visits have continued, but now, for the first time since it began, visitors can see the whole glory.
From Telegraph (UK), DETAILS More PICTURES from TravelGumbo’s DrFumblefinger.
They looked just fine when I last visited, pre-wash, but keeping in mind I’m one of those who never notices my own dirty windows, too busy looking beyond the dirt, I guess. But I’ll go have another look at Sainte-Chappelle’s.
Would be worth a trip in Paris just to see these magnificent windows now that they’re polished and cleaned!