Basilica Cathedral of Saint-Denis, royal necropolis - Independent visit

A masterpiece of Gothic architecture and the necropolis of the Kings and Queens of France

To the north of Paris, at Saint-Denis, this grandiose basilica cathedral is inextricably bound up with the history of France.

Built on the foundations of a Gallo-Roman cemetery and a 5th-century chapel dedicated to the cult of Saint Denis, first bishop of Paris and martyr, the Basilica of Saint-Denis has continued to expand over the centuries.

This jewel of Gothic architecture and royal necropolis houses more than 70 recumbent medieval and Renaissance tombs, constituting the most important ensemble of funerary sculptures from the 13th to the 16th century.

There are today 43 kings, 32 queens, 63 princes and princesses and 10 great figures of State buried in the Basilica and its crypt.

The most famous are :
Clovis I
Dagobert
Pépin le Bref
François I
Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette

The Basilica invites you to discover the history of France through recumbent statues of the Kings and Queens of France, sublime stained-glass windows and magnificent architecture.

Documentation for a visit is available in:
French, English, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian and Japanese

Please note
Free admission:
     - for under 18-year-olds.
     - for young people aged 18-25 who are European Union nationals.
     - on 1st Sunday of the month from 1 November to 31 March.

Audio guides available on-site in 5 languages (extra charge): French, English, German, Spanish and Italian.

The Basilica of Saint-Denis is located 200 metres away from the metro station ‘Basilique de Saint-Denis’ (line 13).

During masses, the cathedral may on rare occasions close for several hours.