Beautiful and not so well-know Saint-Denis Basilica. As impressive as Notre-Dame. It is famous for all its recumbent statues and monumental tombs from kings and queens of France. We aimed at the guided tour but it has unfortunately been cancelled last minute. It is probably the best way to visit it. The audioguide (one for two is enough if you think about bringing two pairs of headphones) but are very descriptive. Best to plan an hour to an hour and half to make the time to visit it. Free the first Sunday of a given month during the winter. Worth discovering!
A short train ride out to a not so fabulous part of Paris, the Basilique is an example of the oldest Gothic architecture in Europe. Perhaps not as awe inspiring as other cathedrals found in Paris, it is certainly a must see for fans of Gothic Architecture. The true value is seeing the crypts and resting places of so many famous people throughout French history. The Henri’s the Louis’, Marie Antoinette, Catherine Medici just to name a few! So many infamous rulers in one place.. this is exactly where you don’t want to be when the Zombie apocalypse comes! Very much worth the special trip for history fans. Just be sure you purchase the correct rail ticket if you use the metro!
About 100 French kings, queens, princes, princesses and other royalty are buried at St. Denis (well, in some cases they have been, um, re-collected and reassembled from the time after the Revolution when their bodies were unceremoniously discarded hither and thither, and in other cases what's on display is a reliquary of sorts, containing royal hearts or royal entrails) -- and the basilica itself is gorgeous, set on a square in the eponymous city north of Paris. The Metro takes you right there -- stops within a couple of blocks. Well worth the visit. Allow at least an hour, maybe two. Lots to see, and some great history. Clovis! Pepin the Short! and a bunch of Henris and Louises.
Somewhere we had always wanted to visit, it took about twenty five minutes in a taxi to travel to St Denis, north of Paris, a little further than the Stade de France rugby stadium. It is possible to travel by bus or train but taxi is easier when using a wheelchair.
The intricately carved marble tombs of all the Kings and Queens, from the Roman to the Gothic period are situated on this privileged site by the Seine and on a road that once lead to Rome.
The Crypt and the upper level beyond the Altar are, understandably, not wheelchair accessible but the interior and the ground floor level is spectacular. The breathtakingly beautiful Rose Window and other stained glass windows were stunning!
Since it isn't as well known as Notre-Dame and far from the center of Paris, Saint-Denis is much, much quieter and less touristy than its cousin. While the rose windows are not as impressive, the rest of the stained glass is equal or better than Notre-Dame and you can enjoy it without throngs of people getting in the way.
I would advise getting the audio guide, though. Because it's less visited, most of the explanatory material is in French only. I didn't get the guide and probably understood only about 10% of the information about the Basilica.
