Saint-Denis is a dysfunctional suburb of Paris. Abbey of Saint-Denis (Abbaye de Saint-Denis) - one of the oldest abbeys in France Saint-Denis Monastery in France

In the industrial area of ​​the northern suburbs of Paris there is a national historical and cultural monument of France - the Abbey of Saint-Denis. The majestic Basilica of Saint-Denis became the world's first Catholic Cathedral, built in the style of Gothic architecture and a unique museum of funerary sculptures of medieval France and the Renaissance.

The history of the Abbey of Saint-Denis

According to legend, in the place where the Basilica of Saint-Denis rises, Saint Dionysius ended his life in the 3rd century AD. Beheaded at the top of Montmartre, he walked 6 kilometers, holding his head in his hands, and fell dead near the village located here. Later, the village was named Saint-Denis in honor of the saint, and a chapel was built over his grave in the 5th century. In its place, in 625, by royal decree, the foundation of the Abbey of Saint-Denis was laid and the construction of the monastery began. The chapel was rebuilt into a monastery church.

In the 8th century, the Abbey of Saint-Denis looked like a fortification. It was surrounded by a water moat, through which a drawbridge led to a gate protected by two towers. The monastery walls were equipped with fortress battlements, and there were loopholes inside the walls. Despite this, the basilica could not withstand the invasion of the troops of King Sigebert and, after serious damage, needed restoration. In addition to the reconstruction of the Basilica, carried out in the Romanesque style, the abbey was expanded by the construction of a church school, an almshouse and a library.
Reconstruction of the Basilica of Saint-Denis in Gothic style

From the beginning of the 30s of the 12th century, the Abbey of Saint-Denis was headed by Abbot Suger, who became the initiator and architect of the reconstruction of the main monastery church, which lasted 20 years. Instead of massive church walls, a light structure of the temple was built with wide window openings, pointed arches and high vaults. Due to this, the church room was flooded with streams of light, which, refracting through the stained glass windows, created an atmosphere of spiritual communication with God.


Above the entrance there were round colored windows, called stained glass roses. The stained glass windows depicted scenes from the First Crusade and King Charlemagne's visit to biblical shrines. The floor of the temple was paved with multi-colored mosaics, and the room and facade were decorated with stone bas-reliefs and sculptures. During the construction of the Basilica, the remains of French kings were transferred here, and it began to serve as a necropolis for monarchs and heroes.

During the French Revolution, the Abbey of Saint-Denis was plundered. In the Basilica, the crypts and mausoleums of all French kings were destroyed.

The modern appearance of the Basilica of Saint Denis

The current appearance of the Basilica of Saint-Denis was shaped by the outstanding architect Eugene Violet, who, from 1846 to 1869, carried out the restoration of the temple and tombs damaged during the revolutionary events. Today, visitors to Saint-Denis are treated to a magnificent 12th-century west façade with a plaque dedicated to Joan of Arc, who was wounded near Saint-Denis in the Battle of Paris. The interior of the basilica is decorated with a gallery of 37 ten-meter stained glass windows from the 13th century and elegant decor with bas-reliefs. In the center of the Cathedral there is a statue of St. Dionysius. To the right and left of the choir are 16 tombs of kings with their gravestones, sarcophagi of heroes with their sculptures and figures of saints. From the 13th century, the tomb of King Dagobert I, decorated with bas-reliefs, has been preserved.


Particular attention is drawn to the elegance of the white marble tomb of King Henry II and Catherine de Medici with 12 columns. At its corners there are 4 bronze statues - symbols of Christian virtues. On the tombstone lie statues of the deceased spouses, and nearby are sculptures depicting them alive on their knees praying. The tomb of the royal couple Louis XII and Anne of Brittany, built in the 16th century with beautiful arches and figurines of the 12 apostles, appears in a similar style. The last burial of a royal person, which took place in 2004, is also of interest - the tombstone of Louis XVII with a vessel containing his heart placed in it.

The significance of the Abbey of Saint-Denis for France

For many centuries, the abbey played a significant role in the state and spiritual life of France. Here the main standard of the state and symbols of royal power were preserved, solemn services were held that blessed military campaigns, the children of kings and nobles were educated, queens were crowned and the tombs of monarchs were located. After ascending to the throne, kings placed the crown and symbols of power at the tombs of their predecessors. In the Middle Ages, the abbey housed a hospital, an orphanage and a nursing home. The Great Chronicle of the history of France was kept and preserved here.

How to get there

Ticket price

• Adult: 10 €
• Preferential: free
• Child: free

These tomb monuments began to be erected at the initiative of Saint Louis IX in 1267, and a total of 43 kings and 32 queens are now buried in the basilica, including Dagobert I, Hugh Capet, Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette.

As the legend says, around the middle of the 3rd century. n. e. the first Parisian bishop, Saint Dionysius (in French, this name sounds like Denis), was executed in Montmartre. The executioner lowered the ax, but the headless body, instead of falling onto the scaffold, walked up to the head, took it in his hands and moved out of Paris along the northern road. After six kilometers it fell and did not rise again; it happened near a small village, which was later given the name Saint-Denis. There Denis was buried among the great martyrs executed for their faith in God.

Dionysius of Paris, Patron Saint of France
and first bishop of Paris

Death of Saint Dionysius of Paris.

The emergence of the basilica.

The history of the Basilica of Saint-Denis dates back to the end of the 3rd century: Dionysius of Paris suffered martyrdom around 280 and was buried on the site of the future abbey. He was a Christian missionary who took part in the evangelization of Paris.

Only in the 5th century did a tombstone appear at the burial site of Dionysius, and he himself became revered as a saint on the initiative of Saint Genevieve. At the same time, the first tomb of Saint-Denis was built.

Tympanum above the northern portal of the western facade.

Recent research has led to the discovery of the tomb of Queen Arnegund, wife of Clothar I. She was the first royal to be buried on the site of the present basilica. Dagobert I was the first king to be buried in the abbey in 639.

Throughout his life, he treated Saint Dionysius with special respect, whom he considered the patron saint of the monarchy. The Acts of King Dagobert tells that Dagobert found the relics of Saint Dionysius and his two companions, Prester Rusticus and Deacon Eleuther, whom he decided to bury in the basilica. Despite the growing attention to it, royalty was not buried in the Basilica of Saint-Denis until the 10th century.

royal necropolis and symbol of the monarchy

The basilica acquired fundamental importance for the French monarchy in July 754, when Pepin the Short was crowned and anointed king by Pope Stephen II. This was the first coronation to take place in Saint-Denis.

At the same time, the king promised to renovate the basilica, but work began only fifteen years later. Construction was completed in 775 and the basilica was consecrated that same year by Charlemagne.

It was 80 meters long and had three naves. According to a description from 799, the gate was made of ivory, gold and silver. The crypt with a circular corridor was modeled after the crypt of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, which allowed pilgrims to venerate the bodies of the holy martyrs by walking in a circle.

Facades of the Basilica of Saint Denis

Like many medieval churches, the Abbey of Saint-Denis was designed as a small fortress, in which the functions of a church were combined with a defensive castle. However, its imposing walls could not withstand the attack of the troops of King Sigebert, and in the 8th century the church was destroyed and then rebuilt in several stages. The modern appearance of the cathedral was created during the reign of Charlemagne, when in fact a new temple was built on ancient foundations. But, despite numerous reconstructions and additions, the altar of Saint-Denis has always been located on the site of the tomb of Saint Dionysius.

Saint Denis Cathedral has played a key role in the history of architecture. The new architectural style conquered first all of France and then Europe. This is largely the merit of Abbot Suger, who spent his entire life within the walls of Saint-Denis. It is he who is considered the inventor of the architectural style, which would later be called “architecture of light.”

At the beginning of the 12th century, the adviser to kings Louis VI and VII, a certain Suger, became the abbot of the monastery, under whom a very elegant sculptural facade was created and a crypt appeared. The temple vaults acquired some features of the Gothic style.

And after a stone spire was erected on top of the church, Louis IX transported the bodies of the deceased French monarchs here, each of whom was given his own tombstone. So, the basilica became the burial place of French princes and monarchs.

During the French Revolution, the Saint-Denis complex suffered enormous damage: priceless works of art were damaged. The unbridled crowd opened the tombs and destroyed the gravestones, and the royal remains were burned. The basilica building, like the Bastille, had to be destroyed. It was only by luck that this did not happen.

Large-scale renovation work was carried out here under Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. And the first believer came here after a long break in 1806. At the direction of King Louis XVIII, the tombstones were returned to the church.

Suger, who was elected head of the Abbey of Saint-Denis in 1122, made this basilica a symbol of the monarchy: he was a close advisor to Louis VI and later Louis VII. He convinced the kings to make the basilica a royal necropolis and a repository for royal relics. After many trips to Italy, Suger decided to change the architecture of the basilica: inspired by the Gothic style, it is still distinguished by its originality (for example, the absence of walls between the aisles, the use of monolithic columns). The temple was enlarged, and radiating chapels were added to the choir.

But historical justice triumphed: in 1869, through the efforts of the architect Violet-le-Duc, the basilica was restored. This truly great man devoted his life to restoring the most remarkable monuments of French architecture that were in terrible condition. Thanks to him, we can now enjoy the beauty and grandeur of Mont Saint-Michel, Notre Dame and many other beautiful buildings that could have sunk into oblivion, as happened with the Bastille.

Inside the basilica

The abundance of sculptures, stone carvings, magnificent stained glass windows, shining gold altars - all this makes an incredible impression.

The relics of Saint Dionysius were placed in the center of the choir, on the elevation of the altar.

Stained glass

The abbey's stained glass windows are combined into cycles with a common theme. One of them tells about the events of the First Crusade, the other is based on a literary work describing the visit of Charlemagne to the Holy Land.

“Architecture of light,” as the abbot called the style he invented, elevates a person above everyday problems, symbolizes the transition from material values ​​to spiritual ones. Suger came up with stained glass windows that depict historical and biblical scenes, as well as a stained glass rose (a round window above the main entrance of the temple).

The mosaic floor made by Italian masters evokes admiration.

Passage to the altar, on the floor of which the signs of the zodiac are laid out in a mosaic.

Tombstones and burial vaults

Executed king and queen

Statue of King Louis XVI

Statue of Queen Marie Antoinette.

By the will of King Louis XVIII, the chapel was built in 1826: it was surrounded by a low, gloomy arcade approximately covering the place where the corpses of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette could have been buried. First, the king and queen executed during the revolution were buried in the cemetery of St. Magdalene, throwing the corpses into a common grave and covering them with unburnt lime.

The executed Queen Marie Antoinette, ascending the scaffold, said that her ten-year-old son was declared heir to the throne. However, the boy was not destined to ascend the throne. Tortured in the casemates of the capital's Temple prison, he soon died.

The child's body was preserved through the efforts of the prison doctor. In the early 2000s, an examination was carried out on the remains, the results of which indicated that the queen and the boy were close relatives. In 2004, the heart of a child, the unrecognized King Louis XVII, was placed in a necropolis near his parents.

Tomb of Louis XI and his wife. The royal couple on this monument is in two forms: first in a supine position on the sarcophagus, then above it - on their knees.

Diana French

Louis X!!!

The tombstone of Louis XII and Anne of Brittany (XVI century) is a masterpiece of the basilica

Louis XII and Anne of Brittany are depicted dead inside the tomb, as well as alive and praying in the upper part.

All the kings of France from Clovis the First (465-511) to Louis the 18th (1755 - 1824) are buried in the basilica, as well as several other kings, for example Levon the 5th, king of Cilician Armenia (1342-1393).

Tomb of the Armenian king Levon V (1310-1342) in the Abbey of Saint-Denis, Paris.

Tombstone of Francis I, his wife Claude of France and their children.

Tombstone of Henry II and Catherine de' Medici,

Sculptor Pilon

The tombstone of Henry II and Catherine de' Medici was commissioned by Catherine herself. The Queen decided to make the chapel a family tomb and for this she invited the Italian artist Primaticcio. After his death in 1570, construction was continued by Batista Andrua di Cerso. For ten years the main sculptural work was carried out by Pilon. The Rotunda took a long time to build, but remained unfinished.


On the tomb are the kneeling figures of the king and queen praying; Inside the chapel, the royal couple are depicted in the form of marble gisanti.

The architectural frame of the monument - an oblong, free-standing chapel on a raised platform decorated with bronze and marble reliefs - belongs to Primaticcio. On the corners near the monument there are four large bronze statues of the Virtues, made in the Fontainebleau style.;

Recalling the distinction we made above between the classical and medieval attitudes towards death, we can express this feeling as follows. The Gothic gisanti, an image that emphasizes the physical decay of the flesh, represents the future state of the body in accordance with the whole “prospective” character of the medieval tomb. Pilon's Gisanti are “retrospective,” although they do not deny the reality of death. It is in this unity of opposites (which was never possible to repeat, even by Pilon himself) that lies the reason for the greatness of these figures

Whose tombs are these in the previous photo?

Louis XIV the Great

Sun King

Louis the Sixth, who later turned out to be one of the characters in the film "Aliens"

It was during the reign of Louis VI that a tradition arose, following which French kings went to the abbey to raise the banner of Saint-Denis before going to war or on a crusade.

Interesting Facts.

Touching beloved dogs and martens, which the queens once carried in their arms for a completely pragmatic purpose, since the temperature of the animal was higher, the fleas moved from the tall ladies to the animal.

Stained glass windows date back to 1140-1144, surviving only in fragments.

In 1837, lightning struck the spire of the northern tower; it could not be restored, so the basilica, unfortunately, has only one tower.

In the 13th century, extensive work was carried out to reconstruct the nave. The two towers of the facade were built at the same time: the northern tower rose more than 86 meters, but was then destroyed. Tombstones in the form of lying bodies of the deceased began to be installed in the basilica under the leadership of King Louis IX in 1267.

A feature of the lying statues was their open eyes: the deceased were not in the world of death, but in anticipation of the Resurrection. Symbolically, all the figures were located towards the east, from where Christ should come to earth at the end of time.

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Built during the Middle Ages, the Basilica of Saint Denis in Paris resembled a fortification more than a temple. A drawbridge was thrown across a deep ditch with water, leading to a gate protected by two towers. The walls had loopholes and battlements.

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The Basilica of Saint Denis was also the site of the coronation of queens of France. Unlike kings, the coronation of queens was not systematic. Catherine de' Medici and Marie de' Medici were both anointed kings at Saint-Denis.

Pierre Henri Revual "King Philip Augustus receives the oriflamme in Saint-Denis" 1841,

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Important royal relics were kept in Saint Denis - the oriflamme (royal standard), the sword of Charlemagne and other royal regalia. Until the 15th century, every military campaign began with a solemn service in the abbey, during which the oriflamme was ceremonially presented to the monarch. The Great Chronicle, the main historical document of France, telling about the main events in the history of the country, was also kept in Saint-Denis.

Rubens Coronation of Marie de Medici"

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After the French Revolution, many of the bodies of its victims were buried in mass graves, and unique funerary statues were moved from their original places. Although some of these monuments were destroyed, most were preserved and were exhibited in the Museum of French Monuments.

François Pascal Simon Gerard Coronation of Charles

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In 1846, the famous architect and restorer Jacques Viollet-le-Duc demanded the dismantling of the north tower, whose structure was badly damaged by lightning and a tornado that passed through the region. In addition, he came up with the idea of ​​​​reorganizing all the royal tombs in the form that we know today.

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In the cathedral itself there is an exhibition in which you can see royal robes, crowns and other accessories.

Robe of Louis 18

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After the creative restructuring initiated by Suger, the temple acquired more majestic and airy outlines. The result was so stunning that the bishop consecrating it ordered the construction of cathedrals in the image of the Basilica of Saint-Denis.

In front of the entrance to the basilica there is a memorial plaque stating that on September 13, 1429, in these places, in the battle for Paris, Joan of Arc was wounded

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The basilica was elevated to cathedral status in 1966 and was visited by Pope John Paul II in 1980.

Basilica of Saint Denis today.

The western façade of the building, dating from the 12th century, has survived to this day, with a gallery decorated with stained glass windows depicting scenes telling about the Crusades and the lives of saints. The sculptural decorations of the interior decoration and tombstones of French kings have survived. Some of them are made with such detail that you can discern the pattern on the fabric. The mosaic floor made by Italian masters evokes admiration. Thanks to the windows of the upper tier and the huge stained glass windows of the lower one, the Saint-Denis temple is brightly lit.

The Parisian suburb of Saint-Denis is famous first of all Basilica of Saint Denis, which is the tomb of the French kings. 25 kings, 10 queens and 84 princesses are buried here.
You can get to Saint Denis by metro line 13 to the Basilique St Denis stop or by RER line D to the Saint Denis stop.

Gothic Cathedral of Saint Denis rises on the site of the Gallo-Roman cemetery, where the first bishop of Paris, who suffered martyrdom around 250, was buried.
In the period from V to IX centuries. The history of the cathedral is surrounded by legends.
In 754, the Pope crowns the future Charlemagne here. In general, the entire history of the cathedral is closely connected with the history of the monarchy. Many queens have been crowned here.

Saint Denis. France.

Saint Denis. France.

Saint Denis. France.

Saint Denis is a suburb of expats, so it can be unsafe at night. The shopping street-flea market begins right from the Basilica.
Also in the suburb of Saint-Denis is the 80,000-seat Stade de France stadium.

The Abbey of Saint-Denis is most often not included in the standard excursion tourist program. This happens due to the fact that it is located in a very disadvantaged suburb of Paris. But this place is of great historical value and is definitely worth a visit.

The legend of the creation of the abbey

The origin of the name Saint-Denis is associated with the legend of Dionysius, the first bishop of Paris and patron saint of France. As the story goes, he was sent to these parts by the Pantifex to convert the pagan Gauls to the Christian faith. He was executed in Montmartre during the reign of King Valerian: his head was cut off. However, the body of Saint Dionysius approached his head, took it in his hands and walked about another six or seven kilometers to the northeast. After which it fell next to a small settlement, which was later named after him: Saint-Denis. This story happened back in 258 AD. Until now, on the icons of St. Dionysius is depicted holding his head in his hands.

At the burial site of Dionysius of Paris, or rather even above the grave itself, in 475 the church of the Saint-Denis monastery was built with the blessing of Saint Genevieve. At that time there was a Gallo-Roman cemetery here. And in the 7th century, by order of King Dagobert the First, an abbey was erected around it. The ruler himself wished to be buried here. All royals and queens, princesses and princes were buried in the abbey. Information about the number of burials of high-ranking persons differs in different sources, because not all burials have been preserved. Many graves were destroyed.

The Gothic style originates here

The Church of St. Dionysius itself was reconstructed many times: in the seventh century during the creation of the monastery, during the reign of Pepin the Short. In the 12th century, the abbey had already become very influential and powerful in France. Therefore, it was decided to expand it and build new buildings. This large-scale reconstruction began to be carried out by Abbot Suger, an enlightened and outstanding religious figure of his generation, a traveler. He was appreciated and listened to by several French kings (for example, Louis the Fourth and Louis the Seventh).

The idea behind the reconstruction was to reflect the increased weight of France and its culture in Europe and throughout the world. Construction lasted for decades. The abbot wanted to preserve the original appearance. So, as a result of a mixture of architectural traditions and trends, a fusion of Burgundian and Burgundy arose. And the first building erected in Gothic was the Church of the Abbey of Saint-Denis.

Suger the architect was responsible for the creation of tall stained glass windows with images of stories from the Bible, a “stained glass rose” above the entrance, which became the decorations of the abbey. The Church of Saint-Denis continued to be restored after the death of Abbot Suger. In subsequent centuries, something was constantly changed in it, so the decoration of those centuries has only partially survived to this day.

Tomb of the French Kings

In the 13th century, Louis IX ordered the burials of all the royals who ruled before him to be moved to the territory of the Abbey. The church also began to serve as the tomb of the kings of France.

From the tombstones of different times, one can trace how funerary art changed and developed in different centuries. Some of the slabs and monuments are decorated with statues of sleeping monarchs (this is typical for the twelfth century); during the Renaissance, tombstones were decorated with compositions with the hope of resurrection.

Abbey of Saint-Denis during the revolution in France

The Hundred Years' War and the Huguenot Wars caused significant damage to the abbey's architecture, but the tombs were mostly damaged during the French Revolution. The ashes of the Autocrats were dumped in a ditch and buried, a large number of works of art stored on the territory were taken out or lost.

They say that the revolutionaries put the body of King Louis the Fourth on public display. For a while, anyone could come up and look at the remains. Some bodies were torn to pieces, carried home by necrophiliacs, and even sold.

The history of the Abbey of Saint-Denis almost ended with this black page. The cathedral was supposed to be demolished by decree of the National Assembly, but at the last moment it was canceled.

In 1814, the relics of the kings were dug up and collected in the crypt into an assuary. And in 1869, the basilica of the Abbey of Saint-Denis itself was restored by the remarkable French architect Violet-le-Duc, who restored more than one great monument. He worked, for example, on the Cathedral of Notre Dame, Mont Saint-Michel and others. Back in the 17th century, Saint-Denis again began to function as a tomb for the crown.

King's burial ceremony

In the 17th century, according to the theory of French jurists, the king should be immortal. This was emphasized in every possible way with the help of a large number of burial rituals. The autocrat had a dual essence: man and For example, the funeral of King Henry the Fourth lasted forty days. The monarch's entrails were removed after death and buried separately and without ceremony in the Abbey of Saint-Denis. The heart was cleaned, infused with alcohol, and rubbed with herbs, it was placed in a cloth bag, then in a lead box, which was then placed in a silver box. The hearts of monarchs were kept in different places. They were given special importance, since it was with their hearts that they rooted for France. The body was embalmed and buried separately. An effigy of the king was also made from straw, although none of them survived after the French Revolution. The effigy of Henry the Fourth imitated the life of a living king for 10 days using special rituals.

In Saint-Denis, all the royal regalia accompanied the embalmed body until the very last moment: the utterance of the iconic phrase of the transfer of the throne to new hands.

The king is dead... Long live the king!

After this phrase, the king’s regalia followed as quickly as possible to Reims for the coronation.

Meaning of Saint Denis

Starting from the 11th-12th centuries, the abbey had great weight in France: not only monarchs were buried here, but also their heirs were trained, and queens were crowned here. The monastery of Saint-Denis carried out educational activities in the Middle Ages, the monks were engaged in charity: there was a hospital, a nursing home and an orphanage.

The abbey basilica also has architectural significance: it is the source of the development of the Gothic style, and stained glass art was born here.

The necropolis of Saint-Denis reflects the development of funeral ceremonies in France and is a unique monument, with 51 tombstones.

In 2004, the heart of Marie Antoinette's son was buried here, who, although he did not rule, was recognized as king by many European countries and in the United States.

How to get to the abbey

The thirteenth line will take you to the basilica. The stop is called Basilique St Denis in the direction of the outskirts station.

You can also use the high-speed train (in Paris it is abbreviated RER), line D, the station is called Saint Denis.

Basilica opening hours

You can get into the altar part of the church completely free of charge. From here you can look at the burials through the bars. The basilica is open to the public almost every day, except when funerals or weddings take place there. Entrance to the necropolis is paid, it is located on the right side of the Saint-Denis Cathedral. Photos inside are prohibited.

No events in the history of France could completely destroy this burial place of great monarchs, a monument of French culture, witness to the change of times and cultures. The visitor will undoubtedly be strongly impressed by the Gothic vaults of the cathedral, virtuoso stained glass windows and gravestones that vary widely in style: from gloomy medieval ones to Renaissance monuments that inspire hope for resurrection and eternal life.

The Abbey of Saint-Denis (French Abbaye de Saint-Denis) was originally called a basilica and is located on the former Halo-Roman cemetery. Saint Dionysius (Denis) rests here. The abbey was named after him, even though it is located in the suburbs of Saint-Denis. Its history is overgrown with legends, the most popular of which says that Dionysius came here carrying his head, which was cut off in Montmartre, in his hands. […]

Abbey of Saint Denis(fr. Abbaye de Saint-Denis) was originally called a basilica and is located in the former Halo-Roman cemetery. Saint Dionysius (Denis) rests here. The abbey was named after him, even though it is located in the suburbs of Saint-Denis. Its history is overgrown with legends, the most popular of which says that Dionysius came here carrying his head, which was cut off in Montmartre, in his hands.

Since Louis IX the Saint gave the order to move the ashes of all his predecessors here and install tombstones for them, the church began to serve as a tomb for the crowned heads of France. This was at the beginning of the 13th century. And the first monarch to be buried here was King Dagobert.
42 kings, 32 queens, 63 princes and princesses and 10 great French personalities rest in the royal tomb. This is the place where the remains of almost all the French kings, with the exception of three, and their families are buried.

The decline of the abbey began much earlier than the Great French Revolution; this was the result of religious strife, political intrigue and conflicts, and the Hundred Years' War against England played no small role in this. In 1793, revolutionaries smashed this royal symbol to smithereens, tombs were plundered, destroyed, bodies were collected into one common grave.

During his reign, Napoleon orders the restoration of the abbey. Throughout the 19th century its restoration lasted.

Abbey of Saint-Denis (French: Abbaye de Saint-Denis)
6 Rue Strasbourg, 93200 Saint-Denis, France

Take the M13 metro to Basilique St Denis station

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