The Basilica of Saint-Denis – one of the oldest churches of Paris, a jewel of medieval Gothic architecture, national spiritual Shrine. Here is the resting place of the greatest monarchs of the country, have left their mark in the history of Europe and the world.

In Roman times there was a settlement Katolik. It here in Montmartre, holding his own severed head in hand, the first Bishop of Paris, St. Dionysius, after which the place was called Saint-Denis. In 475 year here with the blessing of St. Genevieve built a Basilica. In the year 630 rebuilt the Basilica became the Central Church of a Benedictine monastery.

In the XIII century, Louis IX brought the ashes of their predecessors. Since then, the Basilica of Saint-Denis became the tomb of the kings. For it has been called the "Royal necropolis of France".

Here are the graves of 25 French kings, 10 Queens, 84 princes and princesses. Among them is the legendary personality, without which Europe could have looked differently: Clovis I, who baptized the king of the Franks, Charles Martel, who stopped the advance of Islam on the European continent, intellectual Charles V, defended the sovereignty and unity of France. In Saint-Denis is stored and the famous Royal standard – Oriflame.

During the French revolution the monastery and Basilica were looted and closed, the remains of the reigning monarchs dumped in a ditch, covered with lime and burned. In 1814, during the restoration of the Basilica of the bones of the kings and their relatives gathered in ossuary – special storage. Here in the crypt were reburied executed on the guillotine Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. In 1830 burials were stopped.

An exception was made only on June 9, 2004: on this day in Saint-Denis was buried the heart of the young Louis XVII, and climbed the throne of the son of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette.

The Royal tombs at Saint-Denis are a remarkable sight: on the gravestones lie reclining sculpture of the dead, carved with a portrait likeness. The decoration of the Basilica are the magnificent stained, stories that tell of the Crusades.