3 original anecdotes about the tombs of the kings and queens of France at the Basilique-Saint-Denis

On the occasion of the reconstruction of the spire of the Basilique Saint-Denis, we were able to walk around the site and discover the role of the stonemasons, as well as learn a little more about the history of the Gothic edifice. Noémie Nunes, in charge of communications at CMN, told us in detail about the monument's special features and shared some original anecdotes about the famous gisants, the impressive funerary sculptures found at the Basilica.

Discover the work of the stonemasons for the reconstruction :

Reconstruction of the spire at Saint-Denis Basilica: our interview with a stonemason
On the occasion of the reconstruction of the spire of the Basilique Saint-Denis and the opening of the Fabrique de la Flèche, where visitors can tour the construction site, we met stonemason Albanne Cadennes to discuss this fascinating skill. [Read more]

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Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I'm Noémie Nunes, in charge of communications for the Cathedral Basilica of Saint-Denis at the Centre des Monuments Nationaux. For us, 2025 is a historic year, because we're starting a huge project to rebuild the tower and the north spire of the Basilica, which was originally over 90m high.

How did Saint-Denis come into being? Tell us about its history and importance

The basilica's roots lie in thehistory of Saint-Denis, the missionary bishop who died a martyr around the 3rd century A.D. His tomb is here, and the basilica was built on it! It's also exceptional because it's a royal necropolis, meaning that the vast majority of kings and queens, princes and princesses of the French monarchy were buried here.

Saint-Denis Basilica, the necropolis of the Kings of France in Saint-Denis (93), discover its history
How about (re)discovering the Basilique Saint-Denis? Classified as a historical monument, this religious edifice in Saint-Denis (93) is home to the necropolis of the Kings of France, and is a must-see for history buffs and those curious about the region's heritage. We tell you all about it! [Read more]

Thanks to this history, we have an exceptional collection, unique in Europe, of funerary sculptures known as gisants. The third element is its architecture, the first masterpiece of Gothic art, which later gave rise to many other buildings, notably Notre-Dame de Paris.

It's often said that the Basilica is its big sister, because it's older and actually served as a model. The most obvious link between the two monuments is the large rose window, which is almost identical.

What are the most unusual or well-known tombs in the Basilica?

• Among the queens buried in the Basilica is the famous Berthe aux grands pieds. This slightly mocking nickname comes from the fact that she probably had a malformation of the foot - a club foot, meaning it was curled inwards.

• At the Basilique Saint-Denis, various anatomical remains are preserved, and the most touching element here is the heart of Louis XVII, preserved in the crypt for visitors to see. It is said that he died in captivity at the Temple Prison when he was just 10 years old, in what must have been very difficult conditions. Today, his heart is preserved just a few meters from the tomb of his parents, Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette.

• Among all the recumbent statues in the Basilica, there's one that's a little exceptional, that of Charles V, because it was commissioned during the king's lifetime. He was very ill, so it's a rather specific recumbent, with physical features such as a small bump on his nose, his chin raised slightly and, as he had a blood circulation disease, he even depicted his hands swollen and his veins popping out.

Tell us about the history of the spire, how it disappeared and why it's being rebuilt today?

For centuries, we had this tower, which was dismantled some 180 years ago by the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc because he had noticed structural weaknesses due to bad weather and a lightning strike on the spire.

His plan was to reassemble it, but unfortunately that never happened until now, with the laying of the foundation stone last March, and the need for around 15,000 more stones! The basilica has been deprived of its summit for over a century, and today theassociation Suivez la Flèche is relaunching the reconstruction project, which will take around five years to complete!

Fabrique de la Flèche: immersive cinema, workshops, and a tour of the construction site at the Basilica of Saint-Denis
By 2029, the Basilica of Saint-Denis will have regained its spire on the north tower, which disappeared centuries ago. But while waiting for the work to be completed, you can visit the site and discover the expertise required for this restoration, starting October 17, 2025, with stone cutting, a forge workshop, and sound and light shows! [Read more]