"Embarkation Point of the Headless St.-Denis" Top 5 Page for this destination Montmartre & Sacré Coeur Tip by BeatChick

Chapelle du Martyre

Well, I HAD to see the spot where supposedly St. Denis was beheaded (martyred by the Romans). According to legend, he then picked up his head, stopped to wash it off at a fountain (Impasse Girardon off rue Girardon) & proceeded north walking about 4 miles before finally succumbing to death, exhaustion, or gravity. Where he fell down is the site of the modern-day Basilique St-Denis just outside of Paris proper.

Of course, if you mark his course on a map you'll notice he didn't exactly go in a straight line!

Directions:
From Metro Abbesses, go east on rue des Abbesses. Rue Yvonne-le-Tac branches off from this street. Continue east 'til just past rue des Martyrs.

Photos: April 2003

othercontact: 9 rue Yvonne-le-Tac, Montmartre
Phone: 00 42 23 48 94
Website: http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintd03.htm

• Updated Mar 16, 2006
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