The Pilgrim's Guide to Saint-Denis

He picked up his own head and kept walking.

According to legend, when Roman executioners beheaded Dionysius, the first Bishop of Paris, on the hill of Montmartre, he rose, lifted his head from the ground, and walked six kilometers north to the place where he wished to be buried. Nearly two thousand years later, that road still leads somewhere extraordinary.

At its end stands the Basilica of Saint-Denis: the burial place of the kings of France and the birthplace of Gothic architecture. Most visitors to Paris never see it.

The Pilgrim's Guide to Saint-Denis brings together history, architecture, and spiritual practice in one companion for the walk, the visit, and the journey home.

Inside, you'll discover:

• The legend of the cephalophore, and why a headless saint became the patron of France
• How King Dagobert I tied his throne to a martyr's tomb
• How Abbot Suger turned heavy stone into "new light" and launched the Gothic age
• A walk through the royal necropolis, from Dagobert to Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette
• How to prepare, when to go, and the route from Paris to the Basilica
• A guided tour of the west front, nave, transept, ambulatory, crypt, and stained glass
• The story of the Revolution's desecration and the long restoration
• A "Pilgrim's Reflection" at the end of every chapter, plus a Plan Your Visit page and a glossary

Perfect for Catholic and Christian pilgrims, Paris travelers who want to go beyond the usual landmarks, lovers of medieval history and Gothic architecture, and anyone who wants a slower, quieter way to travel, in person or from an armchair.

You can come as a tourist. This book will help you leave as a pilgrim.

Scroll up and click "Buy Now" to take your first step.