detail of carving on west front of Basilica of St Denis, Paris
St Denis is a mediaeval abbey church about 10km north of Paris, and has been the burial place of almost every French monarch since the 10th century.
The original mausoleum for St Denis (martyred in about AD 250) was built on this site in the early 4th century. A larger abbey church was then built over the mausoleum in the mid 8th century. However the current basilica was begun in the early 12th century under Abbot Suger.
The west front of the Basilica of St Denis is richly decorated with sculpture. While this facade dates back to the 1130s, it has since undergone considerable alteration and restoration.
detail of carving on west front of Basilica of St Denis, Paris
St Denis is a mediaeval abbey church about 10km north of Paris, and has been the burial place of almost every French monarch since the 10th century.
The original mausoleum for St Denis (martyred in about AD 250) was built on this site in the early 4th century. A larger abbey church was then built over the mausoleum in the mid 8th century. However the current basilica was begun in the early 12th century under Abbot Suger.
The west front of the Basilica of St Denis is richly decorated with sculpture. While this facade dates back to the 1130s, it has since undergone considerable alteration and restoration.