Basilica of Saint-Denis Basilique Saint-Denis
Saint-Denis, France
The Basilica of Saint-Denis is a Catholic minor basilica and cathedral dedicated to Denis of Paris. Part of the Royal abbey of Saint-Denis, the site features Gothic architecture designed by Abbot Suger and is a classified historical monument and Tentative World Heritage Site. It is one of the most looked-up sights in France.
Planning a visit
The basilica is open daily from 10am to 5:15pm. In 2022, the site had about 110,000 visitors. July and August are suitable months for visits because of the heat, with daily highs of 24 °C. January and December are the coldest months, with daily lows of 1 °C and 2 °C. October is the wettest month with 68 mm of rain, while April and July have the fewest rainy days at 9 days each.
The site is located 9 km from Paris and 16 km from Charles de Gaulle International Airport. It is also accessible via the Basilique Saint-Denis Métro station. Visitors can combine a trip to the basilica with visits to nearby locations such as Sacré-Cœur in Paris, 5.6 km away, or Montmartre Cemetery, 5.7 km away. Other nearby sights include Parc Monceau (7.3 km), Palais Garnier (7.4 km), and La Madeleine in Paris (7.7 km).
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 24 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 7 | 8 | 11 | 14 | 18 | 21 | 24 | 24 | 20 | 16 | 10 | 7 |
| Average low, °C | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 12 | 15 | 14 | 12 | 9 | 5 | 2 |
| Rainfall, mm | 56 | 46 | 52 | 50 | 64 | 55 | 60 | 53 | 48 | 68 | 54 | 65 |
| Rainy days | 13 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 13 | 12 | 13 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
