St-Denis is one of the most recognizable of the saints, always portrayed carrying his head under his arm. Legend says that after he was beheaded, he picked up his head and walked north, to what is today the Basilica Cathedral of Saint Denis (map). Just 10 kilometers (about 6 miles) north of Paris, it is easily reached by métro.

If you're interested in French royalty, St-Denis is the place for you. This beautiful Gothic church serves as the necropolis of French monarchs. The beautifully carved tombs and statues present a history of French funerary statues. More...

From King Dagobert, who was buried there in 639, to Clovis, the first Christian Frankish king, and on through François I, Louis XII and Anne de Bretagne, and even including Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, St-Denis houses a remarkable walk through French history.

As was the custom, Louis XII and Anne de Bretagne are shown inside the tomb, "dead, naked, and flayed," and also alive, seated, and praying on the top of the tomb.

The cathedral itself is monumental, and is the earliest example of Gothic architecture. Built by the Abbot Suger in the 12th century, it ushered in the Gothic era and used many new architectural techniques, including the rose window. More...

Today St-Denis is a working suburb of Paris, with a significant immigrant population. It is also home of the Stade de France, a huge stadium built in 1998. It hosted the World Cup that year and is used for other sporting events and concerts.

Basilique Cathédrale de Saint-Denis
1, rue de la Légion d'Honneur
93200 Saint-Denis, France
+33 (0)1 48 09 83 54

Métro: St-Denis-Basilique (line 13)