Construction of Basilica of Saint-Denis

The Basilica of Saint-Denis, north of Paris, was built over the tomb of Saint Denis, the first bishop of Paris, and became the burial place of the kings of France. It is often regarded as the birthplace of Gothic architecture. In the 1130s and 1140s its abbot, Suger, ordered the west front and the choir to be rebuilt using pointed arches, rib vaults and large windows to flood the church with light. This design influenced the great cathedrals that followed in northern France and across Europe. The basilica contains the tombs of almost all French kings, and it was damaged during the Revolution before being restored. It became a cathedral in 1966.

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