The Moscow Kremlin Museums hosted today the opening ceremony of the 'Saint Louis and Relics of the Sainte-Chapelle' exhibition at the One-Pillar Chamber of the Patriarch's Palace.

The event was attended by Sergey Ivanov, Special Presidential Representative and Head of the Board of Trustees of the Moscow Kremlin Museums, Olga Golodets, Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Medinsky, Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation, Jean-Maurice Ripert, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of France to Russia, Alexey Miller, Chairman of the Gazprom Management Committee, and Gerard Mestrallet, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ENGIE Group.

The exhibition features numerous masterpieces of Gothic art from the era of Louis IX. Most of the artworks will be displayed in Russia for the first time ever, including 13th-century stained glass panels from the Sainte-Chapelle and unique items from French art collections, namely the Louvre Museum and Musee National du Moyen Age. Many of those exhibits have never been shown to non-French audiences before.

The event was organized by the Moscow Kremlin Museums and France’s Centre des Monuments Nationaux with support from the Embassy of France in Russia. Gazprom and ENGIE served as general partners in the project.

“Gazprom and ENGIE expand their cooperation beyond industrial and commercial efforts to R&D and arts by supporting exhibitions devoted to French and Russian culture. For over 20 years, the ENGIE Foundation has contributed to the protection and restoration of stained glass panels in dozens of monuments across France, including the Sainte-Chapelle,” said Gerard Mestrallet.

“Gazprom has traditionally supported major international cultural projects. The exhibition presenting some of the greatest cultural achievements of medieval France, which we unveiled today, is truly a landmark occasion for Russia and France alike. It will foster mutual understanding and friendship between our nations,” said Alexey Miller.