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Basilica of Saint-Denis

Basilica of Saint-Denis

1 Rue de la Légion d'Honneur, 93200 Saint-Denis

RELIGIONS Catholic

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELIGIOUS SITE

DESCRIPTION
The Basilica of Saint-Denis is a large medieval abbey church in the city of Saint-Denis, now a northern suburb of Paris. The building is of singular importance historically and architecturally as its choir, completed in 1144, shows the first use of all of the elements of Gothic architecture.

The site originated as a Gallo-Roman cemetery in late Roman times. The archeological remains still lie beneath the cathedral; the people buried there seem to have had a faith that was a mix of Christian and pre-Christian beliefs and practices
HISTORICAL RELEVANCE
Around 475 St. Genevieve purchased some land and built Saint-Denys de la Chapelle. In 636 on the orders of Dagobert I the relics of Saint Denis, a patron saint of France, were reinterred in the basilica. The relics of St-Denis, which had been transferred to the parish church of the town in 1795, were brought back again to the abbey in 1819.

The basilica became a place of pilgrimage and the burial place of the French Kings with nearly every king from the 10th to the 18th centuries being buried there, as well as many from previous centuries. (It was not used for the coronations of kings, that function being reserved for the Cathedral of Reims; however, French Queens were commonly crowned there.) "Saint-Denis" soon became the abbey church of a growing monastic complex.
INTER-RELIGIOUS RELEVANCE
In the 12th century the Abbot Suger rebuilt portions of the abbey church using innovative structural and decorative features. In doing so, he is said to have created the first truly Gothic building.[3] The basilica's 13th-century nave is the prototype for the Rayonnant Gothic style, and provided an architectural model for many medieval cathedrals and abbeys of northern France, Germany, England and a great many other countries.
RELIGIOUS INFLUENCE
The abbey church became a cathedral in 1966 and is the seat of the Bishop of Saint-Denis, Pascal Michel Ghislain Delannoy. Although known as the "Basilica of St Denis", the cathedral has not been granted the title of Minor Basilica by the Vatican.[4]

The 86m high spire, dismantled in the nineteenth century will be rebuilt. The project, initiated more than thirty years ago, will begin in May 2020. It should take about eleven years and cost 28 million euros.
HOW TO USE WITH THE STUDENTS
Direct visit
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  • Basilique Cathédrale de Saint-Denis
    Chef-d’œuvre de l'art gothique et dernière demeure des rois de France. L'ancienne abbaye de Saint-Denis regroupe sur son site des siècles de l'histoire artistique, politique et spirituelle de la France. Découvrez la basilique cathédrale, joyau de l'art gothique et nécropole royale. Visitez l’espace archéologique de la crypte et la fosse d’inhumation de saint Denis, huit gisants de la commande de Saint Louis, le tombeau du roi Dagobert et 60 autres tombeaux sculptés.

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This project has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.