Basilica of Saint-Denis, Gothic cathedral in Saint-Denis, France
The Basilica of Saint-Denis is a Gothic cathedral in Saint-Denis, north of Paris. Its pale stone facade has a central rose window ringed by small round openings, a large arched window below, and a square tower with paired louvred arches on the right. Inside, clustered columns support pointed ribbed vaults above a central aisle of wooden chairs, with the altar before tall stained-glass windows.
The site evolved from a Gallo-Roman cemetery into a royal burial ground starting in the 7th century. In 1144, Abbot Suger commissioned the choir in a new Gothic style that influenced architecture across Europe.
The basilica holds the tombs of nearly every French king from the 10th century to Louis XVIII. Among them is the tomb of Louis XII and Anne of Brittany, commissioned by Francis I in 1516 and finished in 1522. Queens of France were crowned here, and the royal regalia, including the coronation sword and sceptre, were kept here between coronations.
The cathedral opens daily and sits near the Saint-Denis Basilique metro station on line 13. Visitors who want to explore the tombs and vaults should plan time for a quiet walk through the interior.
The 86-metre spire, dismantled in the 19th century after lightning and a tornado weakened it, is being rebuilt; since 2025 visitors can watch the works, planned for completion in 2029 at a cost of 37 million euros.
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