Paris, France: Basilica of Saint Denis
About Saint Denis:
It was Saint Denis and his two companions (Rusticus and Eleutherius) who brought Christianity to Paris in the Second Century. Saint Denis became the first Bishop of Paris (part of the Roman Empire at the time) and was beheaded in 272 A.D. for preaching the Gospel and attracting many converts. Tradition tells the story that after being beheaded he picked up his head and walked from the area now known as Montmartre ( hill of the martyrs) where today you find the Sacre Coeur Basilica about 6 miles to the area now known as St. Denis, preaching along the way as he traveled to his final resting place. He is the Patron Saint of France, and his Feast Day is celebrated on October 9th.
About the Basilica of Saint Denis:
Perhaps not as well known as many of the Churches in the city, this Basilica is one of the most impressive in a city full of history and we would highly suggest you include it on any visit to Paris.
The first church was built around 475 AD, likely containing original remnants that are now part of the crypt including the tomb of Saint Denis. In the 9th Century the Basilica included a specific annular crypt with two corridors.
Abbot Suger significantly rebuilt the church in the 12th century, and his construction is often considered the beginning of Gothic architecture.
About the crypt area and King Louis IX:
The crypt itself has a history as a cemetery that stretches back to the 4th century around the tomb of Saint Denis.
Once the Basilica was built, most of the Kings of France from 500 A.D. onward were buried here (most of them were crowned at the Cathedral in Reims).
This area contains the crypts, but not the bodies, of many of the Kings of France as well as their queens (that of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette being especially popular). Most of the bodies were removed during the French revolution and dumped in the river.
Fortunately, the crypts themselves survived (over 70 of them), and are of rare quality with exquisite marble designs.
Some notable tombs in the crypt area of the Basilica of Saint Denis:
On October 18, 629, Dagobert I became King of the Franks and made Paris the new capital, restoring the unity of the kingdom, centralizing the minting of coins and, upon his death on January 19, 639 AD, was the first king to be buried at the Basilica of Saint Denis.
Charles Martel, often called “Charles the Hammer,” is also entombed here. He is most well-known for his military victory at the Battle of Tours in 732, where he halted the advance of Islamic forces into Europe. He is considered a pivotal figure in European history, laying the groundwork for the Carolingian Empire and contributing significantly to the development of feudalism.
Also of special interest is the tomb of Saint Louis IX, King of France, and the only canonized King of France. He ruled from 1226 to 1270 and was a great reformer of France, introducing many legal changes we take for granted today, such as presumed innocence until proven guilty.
Louis XIV commissioned the building of Saint Chapelle to house many relics he had collected from the Holy Land. He was a friend of the Church who also led the seventh and eighth Crusades. He died in 1270 during the eighth Crusade. Louis was always respectful of the papacy, but defended royal interests against the popes, and refused to acknowledge Innocent IV’s sentence against Emperor Frederick II.
This photo of Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis is courtesy of TripAdvisor
Louis was devoted to his people, founding hospitals, visiting the sick, and like his patron Saint Francis, caring even for people with leprosy. He is one of the patrons of the Secular Franciscan Order. Louis united France—lords and townsfolk, peasants and priests and knights—by the force of his personality and holiness. For many years the nation was at peace.
Every day, Louis had 13 special guests from among the poor to eat with him, and a large number of poor were served meals near his palace. During Advent and Lent, all who presented themselves were given a meal, and Louis often served them in person. He kept lists of needy people, whom he regularly relieved, in every province of his dominion.
Louis led another crusade to North Africa in 1270, but the crusaders were decimated by disease and Louis himself died there at the age of 56. He was canonized 27 years later.
The U.S. city of Saint Louis is named in his honor as are many churches such as St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans, Louisiana. And, of course, the city of Saint Louis is named in his honor (and the Shrine of St. Joseph in St. Louis is the site of two miracles..you can read about them here.)
We celebrate the Feast Day of Saint Louis XVI on August 25.
Another very unique feature of the Basilica is a reliquary containing the heart of the boy, son of King Louis XVI, who would have become King Louis XVII. While his parents were executed at the guillotine, he was imprisoned and later died of tuberculosis. His body was buried in a common grave, but before that an autopsy was performed and the heart was surreptitiously taken from the autopsy room. It had a rather interesting history after that but eventually came back here as its permanent home in the year 2000. DNA testing was conducted using samples of Marie Antoinette’s hair and confirmed it was the heart of the boy who would have become King of France thus putting an end to any rumors that he had somehow survived his imprisonment.
And also of interest is the tomb of Charles Martel (born c. 688—died October 22, 741), called “Charles the Hammer“. Charles Matel was a ruler and statesman who established a strong centralized government in the Frankish Kingdom. Martel’s military campaigns expanded the Frankish territories and consolidated power under his rule. His importance for the future of Christian Europe cannot be stated strongly enough….without him, it is possible that the history of Europe would have been quite different.
Charles Martel is best known for halting the Muslim advance into Western Europe at the Battle of Tours (732), a pivotal moment that preserved Christian dominance in the region. Martel consolidated power, subdued rebellious provinces, and laid the groundwork for the Carolingian dynasty through his son, Pepin the Short, and grandson, Charlemagne. He was a skilled military strategist, using disciplined infantry and strategic alliances to strengthen the Franks. Some have criticized him for being quite ruthless, but we must remember the times he lived in required ruthlessness. One mistake people tend to make is evaluating past behavior in light of the standards of the time in which we live. This type of thinking tends to distort our view of history.
Traveling to the Basilica of Saint Denis:
We recommend “Little Black Book of Paris” and “Streetwise Maps” to help you find your way.
The Basilica is located in a working-class neighborhood. It is not in the center of Paris so you would probably be best advised to take the Metro (Line 13 to Basilique de Saint-Denis station), the RER (Line D to Saint-Denis station), or a bus (lines 153, 253, 255, or 356). The Metro is often the most recommended and easiest option, as the station is very close to the Basilica.
There is no charge for the Basilica itself but there is an admission fee for the crypt as well as a separate fee for the audio tour, but both are worth it. Check the tourism site below for hours they are open, Mass times, etc. And be sure to get the hours right–they are different for the Basilica than for the crypt and you will want to see both.
Address: 1 Rue de la Légion d’Honneur, 93200 Saint-Denis
GPS coordinates: 48° 56′ 5.1972” N, 2° 21′ 30.2652” E
Tel: +33 1 48 09 83 54
Click here for the official tourism site for Saint Denis
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What’s the mass schedule at the Basilica of St. Denis on Fridays