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Basilica of St Denis facts for kids

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SaintDenisExterior
Front of Saint Denis Basilica (in July 2002)

The Basilica of Saint Denis is a basilica in Paris, France. It is famous for its architecture and as the burial place for many Kings of France. It is in the suburb of Saint Denis, which is in the north of Paris.

The Basilica is named after Saint Denis. Saint Denis is the patron saint of France. He was also the first Bishop of Paris.

The Basilica was a Romanesque building. In 1136 the Abbot Suger (1081 - 1155) began replacing the building, bit by bit, beginning with the west front and then with a new east end. The east end is said to be the first building in the Gothic style. It was not completed until the 13th century.

People who are buried in Saint Denis Basilica

Images for kids

  • Saint Denis Félix Benoist 1844 1845

    West façade of Saint Denis, before the dismantling of the north tower (c. 1844 – 1845)

  • Massgiles

    15th-century painting by the Master of Saint Giles, showing St Denis saying mass before Charlemagne or Charles Martel with what is thought to be a largely accurate view of the abbey with a crux gemmata given by Charles the Bald and gold altar reredos, both destroyed in the Revolution.

  • Basilica of Saint Denis North Transept Rose Window, Paris, France - Diliff

    The north transept rose features the Tree of Jesse.

  • St Denis North a

    The south transept rose shows the Creation.

  • FelixBenoistStDenis

    Apse and northern facade, lithography by Felix Benoist.

  • P3050226 Basilique Saint-Denis Portail central reduct

    Tympanum and lintel of the central portal, showing Last Judgement iconography (c. 1135, restored 1839)

  • Basilique Saint-Denis portail nord tympan archivolte

    The tympanum of the portal of the north transept depicts the martyrdom of St Denis

  • St denis montfauconD

    Some of Montfaucon's drawings of the Old Testament jamb figures from the west façade (destroyed 1771)

  • Coeur de la Basilique de Saint-Senis

    The choir

  • St denis nave

    The nave

  • Basilica di saint Denis vetrata 01

    The glazed triforium of St Denis is a notable feature of Rayonnant Gothic

  • Saint-Denis (93), basilique Saint-Denis, abside 3

    Rayonnant Gothic choir of St Denis

  • Louis XVI et Marie-Antoinette

    Memorial to King Louis XVI and Queen Marie Antoinette, sculptures (1830) by Edme Gaulle and Pierre Petitot

  • Charles I of Anjou

    Charles I of Naples (or Anjou).

  • Charles Martel Saint Denis

    Tomb of Charles Martel.

  • Robert II

    Henry I in background, Robert II, John I d. 1316 and Jeanne d. 1349

  • Henri II et Catherine de Médicis

    Tombs of Henry II of France and his wife Catherine de' Medici.

  • Leon V of Armenia

    Tomb of Leon V of Armenia.

  • Tomb of Philippe le Bel in SaintDenis

    Tomb of Philip IV.

  • Basilique St. Denis - Gisantds de Bertrand Du Guesclin, Charles VI, Isabeau de Baviere, Louis de Sancerre, Charles V le Sage, Jeanne de Bourbon

    Saint Denis Basilica – (From left clockwise) Gisants Bertrand du Guesclin, Charles VI, Isabeau of Bavaria, Louis de Sancerre, Charles V, Jeanne de Bourbon

  • Basilique Saint-Denis Louis XII Anne de Bretagne tombeau

    Tomb of Louis XII and Anne de Bretagne

  • SaintDenisInterior

    The choir at sunset

  • Basilique Saint-Denis chapelle de la Vierge

    The axial chapel of the Virgin

  • St Denis Choir Glass

    The clerestory windows

  • Basilique Saint-Denis Dagobert tombeau

    Tomb of Dagobert I

  • France Paris St-Denis Basilica Nativity

    Detail from the 12th-century Life of Christ window

  • France Paris St-Denis Trinity

    Depiction of the Trinity over the main entrance

  • SaintFulrade

    Fulrad, Abbot of Saint-Denis

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