One of the most poignant and mysterious relics in French history, this artifact captures the imagination like no other. Hidden within the crypt of the Basilica of Saint-Denis, among the grand tombs of France’s monarchs, lies a small glass jar containing a dried heart. For years, it has been at the heart of a controversy worthy of a detective novel. This relic belongs to Louis XVII, the "little king" who died at just 10 years old in the Temple prison. Discover the astonishing journey of this heart, which took over two centuries to finally find its resting place.
The story begins on June 8, 1795. In the grim surroundings of the Temple prison, young Louis-Charles, son of Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette, succumbs officially to tuberculosis. During the autopsy, surgeon Philippe-Jean Pelletan, deeply moved by the tragic fate of the child, makes a daring decision: he secretly takes the dauphin’s heart and hides it inside a simple handkerchief.
What follows is a wild and legendary saga. The doctor keeps the relic preserved in a jar of brandy (spirits) on his bookshelf. Over the course of two centuries, the artifact changes hands countless times, survives revolutions, and even makes its way to Spain before returning to France. Meanwhile, rumors circulate wildly: many doubt that the child truly died at the Temple, convinced instead that he escaped and was replaced by someone else.
It wasn't until the year 2000 that science finally unraveled the mystery. DNA tests comparing the sample to Marie-Antoinette's hair confirmed that the heart belonged to a close relative of the queen. By 2004, the small organ, now just a dark, shriveled stone, was officially laid to rest in the royal necropolis of Saint-Denis. Today, it remains the sole physical remnant of the shattered fate of the senior branch of the Bourbons—a treasure trove of history waiting to be explored during a visit to the basilica.
3 original anecdotes about the tombs of the kings and queens of France at the Basilique-Saint-Denis
Between original or touching anecdotes and French history, Noémie Nunes, in charge of communications at CMN, reveals the treasures of the Basilique Saint-Denis, whose spire is about to be reborn thanks to an extraordinary worksite. [Read more]
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Location
Saint-Denis Basilica
1, Rue de la Légion d'Honneur
93200 Saint Denis
Official website
www.saint-denis-basilique.fr
3 original anecdotes about the tombs of the kings and queens of France at the Basilique-Saint-Denis
