La Basilique de Saint Denis

Saint Denis has been in the news this week, for all the wrong reasons. It is never good to be reduced to a hashtag. #SaintDenis. Thankfully I have happier memories of Saint Denis in 2013.

The area of Saint Denis is not really on the tourist trail. It is a northern suburb of Paris, easily accessible on the Metro, and the draw for me was a visit to the rather amazing Basilique de Saint Denis, an incredible gothic cathedral which serves as the Royal Necropolis for France. Fascinating stuff. I meant to do this post way back in 2013, but well I didn't, and so I've forgotten some details.

A side view

Poor old Saint Denis always without his head

The front was undergoing restoration
when I visited in 2013

Joan is never far away at any French church as there is usually a statue of her,
but Joan actually visited here for a blessing in 1429.
Incredible.

Extraordinary robes and crowns used in
anniversary services for the death of
Marie-Antoinette

I always love a rose window

François 1er and Claude de France

Tomb of Louis XII and Anne de Bretagne

Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette

Their feet were most often resting on animals, often lions,
sometimes dogs or other animals. 

Henry II and Catherine de Médicis

The crypt was amazing. I still remember how cool and eerie it was on this rather hot Paris summer afternoon. 

The tomb of Saint Denis

Poor old Saint Denis again.
I think they could have left out the spurting and dripping. 

The heart of Louis XVII
(son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette)

I felt sad for Louis XVII that his heart was in a jar centuries after his death. He saw his parents beheaded, the monarchy overthrown and he was to die just a few years later himself in 1795, still only a boy of 10. I'm not sure how it came to be that his heart was in a jar, but it was given to the Basilica in 1975 and after authentication it has been on display since 2004.

I read the marvellous Paris to the Past (see my review) as preparation for my visit to the basilica and I certainly appreciated it all the more because of it.

I spent a fabulous few hours in Saint Denis Basilica, the admission of 7,50 € is definitely a bargain. As ever I would suggest you get the audio tour if you're lucky enough to visit.

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