Basilique Saint Denis

Basilique Saint Denis

It is worth the trip to the outskirts of Paris to see this basilica, 

with its outstanding array of 

stained glass windows, 

Gothic arches, 

funerary art, 

tombs and sculptures.

For more information on the Basilica
click here.

 

bon dimanche

Basilique Saint Denis

1, rue de la Légion d'Honneur

92300, Saint-Denis

Basilique Saint Denis

Basilique Saint Denis

It is worth the trip to the outskirts of Paris to see this basilica, 

with its outstanding array of 

stained glass windows, 

Gothic arches, 

funerary art, 

tombs and sculptures.

bon dimanche

Basilique Saint Denis

1, rue de la Légion d'Honneur

92300, Saint-Denis

 

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris - Saint Denis

Notre Dame

A small section of the statues of Notre Dame features

poor Saint Denis, a martred Bishop of the 3rd century,

 who carried his head through Paris after being decapitated.

This is a section over the left portal of Notre Dame.

bon dimanche

Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris

6 Parvis Notre Dame

Place Jean-Paul II

75004, Paris

Basilique Saint-Denis - VIII

Basilique Saint-Denis

the crypt

Basilique Saint-Denis is the burial place of French Kings, 

with nearly every king from the 10th to the 18th centuries being buried here, 

as well as many from previous centuries.  

The Revolution and other period of unrest and war 

saw the mutilation and mishandling of many bodies.

There are many tombs under the canopy 

of grand arches and majestic windows, 

but the crypt seen here is much more somber.  

I would not want to be here during a thunderstorm 

or to experience a loss of power.  

The darkness would be overpowering

bon dimanche

Basilique Saint-Denis

93200 Saint-Denis

Marché de Saint-Denis

Marché de Saint-Denis

The Saint-Denis Market is located just a few moments 

outside of Paris and is one of the largest in the greater Paris.  

Few tourists make a stop here, 

but it is rich with international flavors, lively and bustling.

It was closed on the day that five of us visited the Basilique Saint-Denis, 

but I am thinking that it would be worth another trip 

to the end of Métro Line 13 for the colorful market.

Marché de Saint-Denis

92 Bis Rue Gabriel Péri, 

93200 Saint-Denis

Insignes de la royauté

 

Basilique Saint Denis

 

 

Regalia commissioned by King Louis XVIII

 

 

Basilique Saint Denis

Saint-Denis, France

Église Saint Germain l'Auxerrois - St Denis

The statue of Saint-Denis holding his head can be seen all over Paris, here at Saint Germain l'Auxerrois church and nearby at Notre Dame for two.

In the third century he was Bishop of Paris and martyred in connection with the persecution of Christians shortly after 250 A.D.  After his head was chopped off in the area now known at Montmartre, he is said to have picked it up and walked six miles (10km) preaching as he walked.  The site where he stopped preaching and actually died was marked by a small shrine that developed into Basilique Saint-Denis which I featured last Sunday.

There are many versions of the story and the statues depicting Saint-Denis are unique in their artistic interpretation of his halo, and whether or not he made it the whole way with his head or just some part of it.

When you are in Paris, look for Saint-Denis.  He is easy to spot.

bon dimanche 

Église Saint Germain l'Auxerrois

2, place du Louvre

75001 Paris