basilique saint deni

Basilique Saint Deni

Helga design

The church was founded by Dagobert I

in the 7th century

Dagobert’ s tomb

The Basilica of Saint Denis (French: Basilique de Saint-Denis) is the famous burial site of the French monarchs, comparable to Westminster Abbey in

England. Almost all the kings of France were buried in the Basilica, but unlike

Westminster Abbey it was not used for coronations (a role devoted to the Cathedral of Reims).

The basilica is located in Saint Denis, now a northern suburb of Paris

Inspired by Janet Blog “Confronting Mortality at St. Denis”

http://janettravels.wordpress.com

St. Denis is the patron saint of Paris who was martyred by the Romans at Montmartre in about 250 AD. He picked up his own head and walked

the many miles to his current resting place, the spot where the church and later cathedral of St.

Denis now stands

St.Deni at Notre Dame

This small tomb is for Jean I, the posthumous heir of King Louis X who was born and ‘reigned’ for 4

days in 1316 before his death. Note the royal lion at his feet. 

the Dauphin Louis-Joseph who died at age 8, was the second son, the titular Louis XVII who died after the revolution, are interred in the

crypt.  This is the monument containing the heart of Louis XVII.

Gregorian music

Marie Antoinette

Saint Denis Tombs of Louis XII

AndAnne of Brittany

Here is Louis XII and his wife Anne de Bretagne, ornately wigged and

robed, in prayer atop their monument.

“But glance down and we see Louis in all his mortality, naked, without his wig, humbled”

Tomb of Henry II and Catherine de Medici

Tomb of Henry II and Catherine de Medici

Much of the art and gold work at the Cathedral was stolen or melted down but the beauty of the basilica and many of the magnificent tombs remain.

Rich details in marble