What is Saint-Denis?
[[File:St Denis Front.jpg|thumb|250px|Saint-Denis Basilica]] [[File:Blason de Saint-Denis.svg|thumb|90px|coat of arms]] '''Saint-Denis''' is a city and ''commune'' in the north suburbs of [[Paris]], [[France]]. Saint-Denis is a sub-prefecture of the [[Seine-Saint-Denis]] departement, and is the seat of the Arrondissement of Saint-Denis. It is in the [[Île-de-France]] region. Inhabitants of Saint-Denis are called ''Dionysiens''. Saint-Denis is home to the [[Saint Denis Basilica]]. France's national football stadium, [[Stade de France]], built in [[1998]] for the [[Football World Cup]] is in Saint-Denis. Saint-Denis used to be an industrial suburb, but its reconverting its economic base. == History == Almost every French king since Dagobert Ist, was buried in the Basilica. Saint-Denis dates back to the second century. It used to be a village called ''Catolacus''. Saint Denis, the first bishop of Paris, was martyred in about 250 AD. He was buried in the cemetery of Catolacus. Denis' tomb became a place of worship. During the [[French Revolution]] in 1793, the city was renamed ''Franciade'', and the royal [[necropolis]] was looted and destroyed. The name was changed back in 1803. During the [[Second World War]], the Germans occupied Saint-Denis from June 13, 1940. The town was liberated by [[General Leclerc]] on August 27. == Twin towns == * {{flagicon|Spain}} [[Córdoba, Spain|Córdoba]], [[Spain]] * {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Gera]], [[Germany]] * {{flagicon|Scotland}} [[North Lanarkshire]], [[Scotland]] * {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[Porto Alegre]], [[Brazil]] * {{flagicon|Italy}} [[Sesto San Giovanni]], [[Italy]] * {{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina}} [[Tuzla]], [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] == Other facts == [[File:Claude Monet 1899 Nadar.jpg|thumb|100px|Claude Monet]] The painter [[Claude Monet]] was born in Saint-Denis. == Other websites == * [http://www.ville-saint-denis.fr City council website] {{in lang|fr}} {{Cities in France}} {{Paris Metropolitan Area}} {{Authority control}} [[Category:Saint-Denis| ]]