Basilique de Saint-Denis

On my recent trip to France, my first stop was a visit to a place which figures prominently in the storyline of KAMIJO’s album Symphony of the Vampire, the Basilica Cathedral of Saint Denis. When asked in a recent interview what he intended to see when in Paris for his debut, this Basilica was the only place he mentioned, so I made certain it was on my itinerary as well, so I could view this place that had inspired him. The basilica is located in a suburb of Paris, named after the church’s patron, St. Denis, and is easily reached by the Paris metro system.

Basilique Saint-Denis is noted for it’s gothic architecture, it’s beautiful stained glass windows, and especially it’s history as the burial site of many French kings and royalty. The history of the site began as a Gallo-Roman (pre-Christian) cemetery. In 475 a small church was built at the site around the remains of the martyred saint for whom the site is named. It was an important historical pilgrimage destination and remains a modern pilgrimage site for Catholics today.

There is no charge for entering the building, which is a working church, but you may choose to buy a ticket to tour the royal necropolis and also get an audio guide. There is much history embodied at this place that I found the audio guide very helpful. This is the scene upon entering the church.

Turning around you see this magnificent organ, which was installed in 1841. Unfortunately, I did not get to hear it played but found this video so you can hear what it sounds like.

Grandes Orgues Cavaillé-Coll Basilique Saint-Denis

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gK9iuVzx6E#t=18

Side view as you walk down the main aisle. Stained glass windows with detailed Celtic knotwork, sacred symbols, royalty, and saints plays a major part in the design of this cathedral as does gothic architecture. An abbot of Basilica Saint Denis by the name of Suger (1081-1151) began a major renovation program for the basilica which was finished between 1140 and 1144.

Take a look at the following video titled: “Birth of the Gothic, Abbot Suger and the ambulatory in the Basilica of St. Denis, 1140-44”


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EciWH-1ya4#t=74

This is the Western “Rose Window”. This is one of two fabulous stain glass windows both of which were added in the 19th century to replace the originals which were destroyed during the French Revolution when the lead from the stained glass was melted and used to make bullets.

As I mentioned , entry to the church is free of charge, but if after you have seen the main sanctuary you want to approach closer to the sarcophagi that behind the railings, you will need to visit the office outside and buy tickets. This grants entrance to the royal necropolis along the edges of the church and to the crypt which is below the church where the bodies of the royals of France are actually entombed as well as the remains of Saint Dennis himself. There is also extensive information about them and especially about Saint Dennis down in the Crypt area on wall plaques and displays.

Inside the necropolis you can find over 70 reclined statues and tombs which mark the resting places of 42 kinds, 32 queens, 63 princes, and 10 historical figures. There is also a memorial to Louis XVI and Marie Antionette.

The crypt which lies below the main floor is accessible by stairs that will lead you to the remains of St Denis as well the last of the Bourbon kings, Louis XVI and his wife Marie Antionette.

The bodies of Louis XVI and Marie Antionette were not initially entombed at the basilica. Their bodies were originally placed in a mass grave at another site along with many others that were executed during the French Revolution. Their supposed remains from another site were brought to the basilica in 1815 along with other royals under orders from Napleon. Below is the location containing the mummified heart of Louis XVII, which was placed in the basilica in 2004 after modern DNA testing confirmed a match with a lock of Marie Antionette’s hair that had been preserved in a locket.

For two hundred years, several imposters purported to be Louis XVII, until the DNA tests finally put to rest their false claims. For further information on this fascinating history please read “The Lost King of France: How DNA Solved the Mystery of the Murdered Son of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette” by Deborah Cadbury

http://www.amazon.com/The-Lost-King-France-Antoinette/dp/0312320299/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1405541292&sr=8-1&keywords=the+lost+king+of+france

MORE INFORMATION: Official site http://saint-denis.monuments-nationaux.fr/

Sites guides in English and Spanish http://www.monuments-nationaux.fr/fichier/m_docvisite/248/docvisite_fichier_13B.basilique.saint.denis.EN.pdf

http://www.monuments-nationaux.fr/fichier/m_docvisite/249/docvisite_fichier_13D.basilique.saint.denis.ES.pdf



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