So here's the Basilica of Saint Denis. The picture to the left up top here is from the front of the church, and the one down yonder is taken from inside the little tiny park to the North side. The South side has little walkways and the door to the necropolis and the crypt. I'll tell you more about those later. You'll notice the butresses there on the side, it makes sense that they have them on the building since there are such large windows and doors. Also note how the doorway there is very similar to the doorways on the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Since Saint Denis was begun in 1136 and Notre Dame in 1260, any similarities is because Notre Dame copied Saint Denis. As I mentioned before, this is the oldest known structure displaying gothic architecture. Pretty cool, huh? You should also notice that those same gargoyles on all of Paris's cathedrals are no strangers to this Basilica either. The site it
self was the location of a monastery since 628, so it is certainly a historic place. The Basilica is comparable to London's Westminster Abbey since it is where most of France's royalty is buried. The only real difference is that Kings weren't crowned here (that was usually done in Notre Dame de Paris, or Notre Dame de Reims), and there's no where near as many tourists. There I was, along with only four other people, during the peak of the tourist season on a Sunday afternoon. It was nice. Now you get to hear about the inside, including all the famous royal dead dudes!
So here's the Basilica of Saint Denis. The picture to the left up top here is from the front of the church, and the one down yonder is taken from inside the little tiny park to the North side. The South side has little walkways and the door to the necropolis and the crypt. I'll tell you more about those later. You'll notice the butresses there on the side, it makes sense that they have them on the building since there are such large windows and doors. Also note how the doorway there is very similar to the doorways on the Cathedral of Notre Dame. Since Saint Denis was begun in 1136 and Notre Dame in 1260, any similarities is because Notre Dame copied Saint Denis. As I mentioned before, this is the oldest known structure displaying gothic architecture. Pretty cool, huh? You should also notice that those same gargoyles on all of Paris's cathedrals are no strangers to this Basilica either. The site it
self was the location of a monastery since 628, so it is certainly a historic place. The Basilica is comparable to London's Westminster Abbey since it is where most of France's royalty is buried. The only real difference is that Kings weren't crowned here (that was usually done in Notre Dame de Paris, or Notre Dame de Reims), and there's no where near as many tourists. There I was, along with only four other people, during the peak of the tourist season on a Sunday afternoon. It was nice. Now you get to hear about the inside, including all the famous royal dead dudes!
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