Sainte Chappelle interior, Paris, France by T. E. Smith-Lamothe

Canon G7

Built in 1248 by King Louis IX as a private, royal chapel, it is famous for the interior's glorious ambiance. This celestial feeling is due largely to the amazing 15 meter (50 feet) high stained glass windows (15 of them) which are separated by impossibly slender stone columns. Flying buttresses on the outside wall distribute the weight of the roof, enabling the windows to span between the bearing points. Only the King and royal family worshipped in the chapel --- the commoners held services in the large lower chapel underneath. When this hand-held panorama was taken in April 2009, the chapel was set up for a musical performance of Vivaldi's Four Seasons Concerto. The concert was held around sundown and the glowing windows, the long reverb time, and the superb performances by the musicians made for a magical evening.