---
title: Basilica of Saint-Denis
author: Ninaras
source: https://www.worldhistory.org/image/13180/basilica-of-saint-denis/
format: machine-readable-alternate
license: Creative Commons Attribution (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0)
updated: 1970-01-01
---

# Basilica of Saint-Denis

_Authored by Ninaras_

## Image File

[![Basilica of Saint-Denis](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/13180.jpg)](https://www.worldhistory.org/uploads/images/13180.jpg)

## Image Caption

The Basilica of Saint-Denis is located in a northern suburb of [Paris](https://www.worldhistory.org/disambiguation/paris/), France. Extensively renovated by Abbot Suger (1081-1151 CE), a powerful figure in 12th-century CE France, Saint-Denis is considered to be the first-ever Gothic cathedral. Between the years of 1137 and 1148 CE, Suger embarked upon the ambitious project. Guided by a belief in the divinity of light, he employed architectural techniques such as flying buttresses, pointed arches, and rib vaults to create taller buildings that could be flooded with light. He documented his renovations in his writings known as The Book of Suger, Abbot of Saint-Denis: On What Was Done Under His Administration.

## Cite This Work

### APA
Ninaras. (2020, December 04). Basilica of Saint-Denis. *World History Encyclopedia*. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/13180/basilica-of-saint-denis/>
### Chicago
Ninaras. "Basilica of Saint-Denis." *World History Encyclopedia*, December 04, 2020. <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/13180/basilica-of-saint-denis/>.
### MLA
Ninaras. "Basilica of Saint-Denis." *World History Encyclopedia*, 04 Dec 2020, <https://www.worldhistory.org/image/13180/basilica-of-saint-denis/>.

## License & Copyright

[Original image](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Basilica_of_Saint_Denis,_Paris,_France.JPG) by [**Ninaras**](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Basilica_of_Saint_Denis,_Paris,_France.JPG). Submitted by [Hillary Smith](https://www.worldhistory.org/user/hillarysmith/ "User Page: Hillary Smith"), published on 04 December 2020. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: [Creative Commons Attribution](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0deed.en). This license lets others distribute, remix, tweak, and build upon your work, even commercially, as long as they credit you for the original creation. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.