Tombs in Saint-Denis, Royal necropolis in Saint-Denis, France
The Tombs in Saint-Denis form a royal burial site within the Gothic basilica north of Paris. Forty-two rulers, thirty-two queens, and sixty-three additional members of the French monarchy rest here in monumental sarcophagi and beneath stone effigies, distributed across the main nave, side chapels, and the royal crypt.
Dagobert I was laid to rest here in the seventh century as the first king, establishing the tradition of royal burial. Over the following twelve centuries, nearly all French rulers up to Louis XVIII chose this site as their final resting place.
The recumbent figures on the tombs show kings and queens in two states: above in full regalia and below as naked bodies in death. This double representation reflects the medieval idea that royal dignity remains eternal while the body fades away.
The tombs are spread across several areas of the basilica, including the royal crypt and side chapels. A walking route leads through the different sections, with lighting kept low in some spots to preserve the monuments.
In 1793, revolutionaries opened the tombs and removed the royal remains, which were then buried in a pit outside the basilica. Louis XVIII later ordered the return and reburial of the remains in a shared vault.
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