Paroisse Cathedrale St Denis

Very odd that this place is not swarming with tourist. I am studying abroad and our Social Coordinator told us that many kings and queens where buried here. The Cathedral is beautiful. I assume it has been recently renovated since the poster that was there in 2009 visited.
It is considered to be the first Gothic church. Queens were often crowned here. And it was the place where the kings and their queens and families were buried. Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI are buried there along with almost every other King and Queen of France. It is full of historical significance. It is really odd that it is not a number one tourist destination.
Def. a must see.
I didn’t give it five stars because as a non-​traditional full time student studying History (Over the age of 26) I have grown tired of going to these museums in Paris and having to pay at many of them while my class mates, in the same program, at the same school get in free. It’s annoying. If they are going to allow students with a valid Student ID card in then they should allow all students with a valid Student ID card in. It sort of sucks to be the only one of the group that has to pay every other time. Plus the audio tour seemingly skips sections so there you have it. Still a must see if you have any interest in French History!

This is a short train journey outside Paris but definitely worth making the trip as this huge and gloomy cathedral houses the tombs of the French royal family from the earliest times right through to Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. It is really dark and atmospheric inside and hasn’t been prettied up at all, unlike Notre Dame or similar but that just adds to the experience.
Some of the royal tombs, like those of Francois I or Henri II are really spectacular with figures kneeling on top and then underneath lifesized, hideous depictions of their decomposing bodies, complete with worms. Really unappealing and yet fascinating at the same time.
The tombs of Louis and Marie Antoinette, which were erected after the Bourbon restoration feature the royal couple kneeling in prayer and are well worth seeing.

Un très beau témoignage de l’histoire de France. C’est impressionnant de voir les gisants des rois de France. Et les tombes tellement sobres du couple maudits: Marie-​Antoinette et Louis XVI. C’est d’ailleurs assez bizarre de les voir habillés en habits qui né correspondent pas du tout à leur époque.
Les vitraux sont magnifiques. Donc si vous voulez voir une belle cathédrale, il faut aller à Saint-​Denis.