Church of Saint-Denys de la Chapelle

You are approaching one of the oldest sacred sites in all of Paris. While the current interior dates back to the early thirteenth century, the site itself traces its origins to the year 475, when Saint Genevieve herself purchased land here to establish a chapel. It was built specifically to house the relics of Denis of Paris, the patron saint of France, who had been martyred on the nearby hill of Montmartre. Before these relics were eventually moved to the more famous royal basilica that bears his name, this modest spot served as a crucial pilgrimage destination for early Christians.