Saint Denis Basilica Cathedral

Saint Denis Basilica Cathedral was built in the 5th century. The basilica was built on the sight of a Gallo-Roman cemetery where Saint Denis is buried. Who is Saint Denis? Well he is said to have been the first arch bishop of Paris. The story about him is that he was martyred (around 250 A.D.) and after being decapitated, picked up his head and walked with it to the spot where the cathedral named for him is now. Pretty bizarre story! I was unaware of his story until visiting the cathedral. Our real purpose for the trip out there is because Saint Denis is where all the French royalty are buried. It was the most powerful Benedictine abbey in the Middle Ages with Dagobert being a benefactor and Pepin the Short was crowned king here in 724 A.D. It is the necropolis of the kings of France! Starting in the 6th century the French kings and queens were buried here. I have to say I was pretty excited to see where Louise XVI and Marie Antoinette's tomb. There is something exciting about going to the chosen resting place of the royals. 

After our visit there I understand why. The cathedral is beautiful! Look at Cosette with the rose window. They are both stunning! We are going to miss these gorgeous cathedrals when we are back in the states. There is nothing quite like them back home. 
 One thing that was interesting about this cathedral compared to others is the stain glass around the north transept. After reading a little bit about the cathedral I found out that the abbot in the 12th century is the one we owe all the credit to making the cathedral is artistic masterpiece. The building is done in the early Gothic style. There were sections of stain glass around where you were walking which is different from most of the cathedrals we have visited. Thanks to the cross-ribbed vault the sunlight easily comes through bathing the building in beautiful colored light! The sun was extra shiny that day, even though it was freezing, so I am pretty sure that is why those windows stood out to me. It was quite a beautiful/peaceful place to be with all the tombs about. It was not creepy like a grave yard at night might be (especially if there is a dead crow in your path, happened to us in Cambridge, but that is another story). I think because we were in a house of worship there was a very peaceful atmosphere. And the architecture just adds to the atmosphere! It exudes majesty, beauty, and reverence. 
You had to pay to go to the royal's cemetery.  The tombs were laid following the path around the north transept. Some like the one above were more ornate than others. This one you cannot get a good look at the statues on top, but they are praying statutes that are a specific type of funeral statue representing a person praying. These were found on the more ornate tombs. I am not sure if the royalty buried with these types of statues were of more significance or not. All I know is that Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette had the praying statues on their tomb. 
This is an example of the more simple tombs. Still beautiful. These statues are called recumbent statues. They are funeral statues lying down. The statues that lie on top of the tomb are so meticulously sculpted. It is amazing the detail that goes into all the architecture, art, etc that goes into everything in the cathedrals here. It is a wonderful demonstration of how ingenious and talented mankind is. 
Here is where Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette lie. The stuff I learned in my Modern European History class in real life. This was exciting for me. And note they have the praying statues on their tomb. 
More recumbent statues. Interesting fact: 42 kings, 32 queens, 63 prince and princesses, and 10 great men of the realm are buried here. 


The crypt was below the north transept and we went exploring down there. In this picture it looks more like spelunking. 
Exploring the crypt and who did we find? Saint Denis! I like this mosaic of him holding his head. The gothic undertones of this cathedral. I love it!
And here is where ole Saint Denis was buried. They have a projection of him holding his head as you can see. It was pretty hard to keep a straight face when I saw that. The eccentricities of different places. 
Another picture with Saint Denis resting place, but this one has me and Cosette in it. Not as eccentric as the one above with the projection. Had to document we saw his grave. 
We did not take a picture in front of the Cathedral because it is under construction and one side is covered in scaffolding. That does not make for a good photo at all. I totally regret it now. It would have been awesome to have a picture of us in front of this monumental cathedral. I guess we will just have to come back to France to live or visit. Preferably to live. 

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