St. Denis
Oct 3rd, 2009 | 04:18 AM
#21
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 5,097
Likes: 0
"I understand that during the French Revolution the remains of many of the kings were were dumped into large pits nearby."
Graziella, that is indeed what happened, and the church itself was badly damaged.
The church was restored by Viollet-le-Duc, who had a hand in restoring medieval buildings all over France. (And not very accurately, some would say.)
The royal remains were later removed form those pits and placed in an ossuary in the crypt of St. Denis. You can find it by going down the stairs on the north side of the choir. There is a low doorway near the foot of the stairs and a narrow passage that leads to the wall of the ossuary. I went there looking for Henri IV (he was the king that promised a chicken in every pot) and found his name, and many others, carved on the wall. It is a bit creepy.
Anselm
Graziella, that is indeed what happened, and the church itself was badly damaged.
The church was restored by Viollet-le-Duc, who had a hand in restoring medieval buildings all over France. (And not very accurately, some would say.)
The royal remains were later removed form those pits and placed in an ossuary in the crypt of St. Denis. You can find it by going down the stairs on the north side of the choir. There is a low doorway near the foot of the stairs and a narrow passage that leads to the wall of the ossuary. I went there looking for Henri IV (he was the king that promised a chicken in every pot) and found his name, and many others, carved on the wall. It is a bit creepy.
Anselm
Oct 3rd, 2009 | 04:32 AM
#22
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 31,138
Likes: 0
I agree that the windows are prettier than Notre Dame's. There was a rather spirited debate about St. Denis not too long ago on this forum but we had the place to ourselves.
DH and I took the metro to see it. There was a huge market going on and there was a tourist info place in sight as we left metro station.
Help me with the name of the glass company museum folks-that's nearby also.
DH and I took the metro to see it. There was a huge market going on and there was a tourist info place in sight as we left metro station.
Help me with the name of the glass company museum folks-that's nearby also.
Oct 3rd, 2009 | 06:32 PM
#23
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 129
Likes: 0
Hi,
We went to St Denis not only for the cathedral but for the market almost next door. Outside was like a swap meet. Inside the covered part of the market were not only the usual fresh fruits and vegetables, but piles of spices. We bought curry, paprika, and cumin and packed them in containers to take home. They were some of the best spices I have ever bought. It is a very colorful market.
The crypt in the cathedral and all of the sculptures on the burials were all interesting and a bit overwhelming. (I had read a history of France before the trip so it was especially fun for me to see the faces of the kings and queens).
We went to St Denis not only for the cathedral but for the market almost next door. Outside was like a swap meet. Inside the covered part of the market were not only the usual fresh fruits and vegetables, but piles of spices. We bought curry, paprika, and cumin and packed them in containers to take home. They were some of the best spices I have ever bought. It is a very colorful market.
The crypt in the cathedral and all of the sculptures on the burials were all interesting and a bit overwhelming. (I had read a history of France before the trip so it was especially fun for me to see the faces of the kings and queens).
