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From the Stade de France to the Basilica of Saint-Denis.

A walk from the Stade de France to discover the city of Saint-Denis north of Paris.

We have to admit that we don't immediately think of Seine-Saint-Denis for a tourist walk. It is true that some districts are still not very frequented but one should avoid too hasty judgments. The walk proposed here is interesting and allows to discover the city of Saint-Denis. The walk starts from the RER B station (la Plaine - Stade de France) and ends at the Saint-Denis basilica metro station. On the way you can see the Stade de France, the museum of art and history of Saint-Denis and finally the basilica of Saint-Denis where the kings of France are buried. The walk is not very long (a short afternoon) and it is instructive. The milestones along the way are a reminder of the city's industrial past. Do not hesitate to leave Paris to discover Saint-Denis.

Interest: ratinggood (1 user)
Difficulty: difficulty
Duration: 4 h.
Departure point (Google Maps)

The Stade de France

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The Stade de France
At the exit of the RER station go towards the Stade de France, it is necessary to walk a few minutes to reach it.

Bollard on the course

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Bollard on the course
This walk is proposed by the Tourist Office of Saint-Denis (you can get a paper version). The route is marked out by very interesting explanatory posts. The first marker indicating the beginning of the route is located in front of the Castorama.

The Stade de France seen from the Canal Saint-Denis

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The Stade de France seen from the Canal Saint-Denis
The Stade de France was built on the site of a former gas storage plant where the work was particularly hard.

Slums along the highway

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Slums along the highway
In the distance we can see a shantytown wedged between the highway and a soccer stadium.

One of the rooms of the museum of art and history of Saint-Denis

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One of the rooms of the museum of art and history of Saint-Denis
The entrance to the museum is 5 Euros, free on the first Sunday of the month. Good value for money, it's really worth a look. The museum is a bit of a mishmash with three distinct parts (the carmel, the war of 1870, Paul Eluard) but the visit is interesting.

A beautiful thought

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A beautiful thought
Throughout the carmel you can find quotes from the Bible or from saints on the walls to encourage the nuns to meditate. The carmel consisted of only one heated room and the nuns were only allowed to speak for two hours a day.

The cloister

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The cloister
The cloister consists of four galleries organized around a garden. The monastery was in activity until 1895. On the floor, the light-colored slabs remind us that the nuns were buried in the cloister.

La salle Paul Eluard

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La salle Paul Eluard
Paul Eluard, the poet, was born in Saint-Denis, some rooms of the museum are dedicated to him. On the picture you can see a (horrible) vase offered by Picasso for Paul Eluard's wedding in 1951.

The square in front of the basilica of Saint-Denis

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The square in front of the basilica of Saint-Denis
The basilica is well highlighted by this pretty little square. The basilica is a masterpiece of Gothic art.

The interior of the cathedral

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The interior of the cathedral
According to the legend the bishop Denis was beheaded by the Romans. He then took his head (!) and walked to his final resting place. A cult developed around his tomb and a church was built to welcome pilgrims. The fervor of the pilgrims will enrich the monastic community and allow the construction of the basilica.

The tomb of Louis XII and Anne de Bretagne

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The tomb of Louis XII and Anne de Bretagne
Magnificent monument realized in marble of Carrara by Italian artists. The king and the queen are represented praying. We can also see their statues inside the building, this time they are represented at the time of their death (we can distinguish the stitches due to the embalming).

The recumbent statue of Charles Martel

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The recumbent statue of Charles Martel
The kings of France were buried in this basilica to benefit from the protection of Saint Denis. The entrance fee for the visit of the tombs of the kings of France is 7,5 E. A little expensive especially as one can see some of the recumbents from the nave of the basilica.

🚶‍ Practical information 🌳

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