Saint-Denis Cathedral Basilica pre-selected to become "France's Favourite Monument" 2025!
From 6 to 23 May, vote online for this exceptional monument in the Ile-de-France region!
The Basilica in the running to become "France's Favourite Monument"!
The cathedral basilica of Saint-Denis has been selected, along with 4 other monuments belonging to the Centre des monuments nationaux, to become the "Monument préféré des Français" (2025 edition).
In the Ile-de-France region, the cathedral basilica of Saint-Denis and the Villa Savoye have been shortlisted. To elect the one that will represent your region, go to the France Télévisions website from 6 to 23 May and register your vote!
Please note: there is no specific geographical area in which to vote.
The elected monument for each region will be announced during the programme "Le monument préféré des Français" (The French Favourite Monument) hosted by Stéphane Bern, in July. Viewers will then be able to elect "Le Monument préféré des Français 2025" (The French Favourite Monument 2025).
It's up to you to help the Cathedral Basilica of Saint-Denis be voted the region's favourite monument on the internet. So get voting!
A monument with many facets
Built over the tomb of Saint-Denis, a missionary bishop who died around the year 250, the basilica houses a collection of over 70 funerary sculptures that is unique in Europe. From Dagobert to Louis XVIII, forty-three kings, thirty-two queens, sixty-three princes and princesses and ten great servants of the kingdom have their tombs in the basilica.
It is also the first monumental masterpiece of Gothic art, nicknamed Lucerna (the lantern) until the 18th century for its exceptional luminosity thanks to its many stained glass windows and innovative architecture. The cathedral basilica of Saint-Denis is the cradle of Gothic art in Europe! To find out more: Discover
A monument at the centre of attention!
In 2024, the Cathedral Basilica of Saint-Denis attracted a record 147,718 visitors, an increase of 9% on the previous year. The recently restored façade has been restored to its former glory, as have the stained glass windows in the huge south rose window and the chevet. The new tour route, inaugurated in April 2025, offers visitors a richer, more accessible experience.
This momentum is continuing with the launch of a major project to rebuild the tower and the north spire of the façade, which have been missing since 1846. In autumn 2025, this ambitious project will give rise to La Fabrique de la Flèche, an immersive and innovative site that will take visitors to the heart of the history of the spire of Saint-Denis cathedral basilica and the skills of the cathedral's builders.
Through these ambitious renovations and projects, Saint-Denis Cathedral Basilica is proving more than ever that it is an exceptional monument, combining history, heritage and innovation!