FRANCE 98 – Saint-Denis
Necropolis for the Kings of France Saint-Denis is a city rich in contrasts, a place where the famous Gothic basilica and the ultra-modern Stade de France can exist side by side in perfect harmony. With a solid footing in the past and resolutely turned towards the future, it is a place that often glows with the magic atmosphere generated by big events. And the royal city is forging ahead to the third millennium with all the force of a champion. Necropolis for the Kings of France
Contrasts in architecture Saint-Denis, 9 km north of Notre-Dame in Paris, plays an important role in the economic life of the Paris metropolitan area. For the last hundred years it has been the home of large business concerns, which today include Siemens, Panasonic, the Gaz de France research centre, the TGV (high-speed train) workshops and numerous audio-visual companies. The new road infrastructures being built to accommodate World Cup traffic are additional bonuses which have attracted several new companies to the city.
Cosmopolitan city Saint-Denis IN THE RUN-UP TO THE WORLD CUP A metamorphosis in action Ever since the announcement that it was to be one of the host cities, Saint-Denis has considered the World Cup as a real project embracing many issues: social, economic and cultural. The city and the whole population is working as one on a process of transformation and improvement, moving together towards the great global “consecration” in 1998, which everyone sees, with enormous enthusiasm, as a dynamic springboard to the third millennium. At the heart of this metamorphosis, the Stade de France rises majestically skywards, and in its wake follows a whole new world of infrastructures. For the World Cup means that Saint-Denis will have two new stations for access to the stadium, and numerous amenities and services in the locale which will contribute to the new royal aspect of the city where the kings of France have their resting place. Something for everybody Students and pupils are thoroughly involved in all the city’s schools. Those at the Suger school have been corresponding for several months already with schoolchildren in Barcelona, Milan, Paris and Manchester, so that they can get to know other supporters’ clubs better. Their work will culminate in 1998 with a grand meeting on the theme “Sport and citizenship.” Other schoolchildren have been involved in the transformation of the areas they live in by participating in exhibitions. Plans for a welcome village are at present being finalised, and it will soon be built. This will be a rallying point for all the local and regional partners, who will doubtless want to take advantage of the occasion by advertising their services and products. A festival of joy |
POPULATION Inner city: 95,000 habitants Urban area: See Paris. Mayor: Patrick Braouezec TOURISM
Sites and monuments MAPS |
enis, the first bishop of Lutetia in the 3rd century, met a tragic end. According to legend, after he was beheaded at Montmartre, he walked with his head under his arm to the village which took his name. His tomb was a place of pilgrimage before becoming a royal abbey with a very special function. For the celebrated basilica, jewel of the Gothic period, houses 70 royal tombs, those of nearly all the kings of France since Hugues Capet. An important focal point in the France of mediaeval times and the Capetian era, Saint-Denis took on a very different aspect during the industrial revolution of the 19th century, becoming one of the chief industrial and economic centres in the immediate vicinity of Paris. Several waves of immigrants since then have made a considerable contribution to the economic dynamism of the city, and given it a truly cosmopolitan feel.
aint-Denis has preserved many of its architectural splendours from the past: the cathedral with its royal tombs, together with a monastery built under Louis XV, now “Maison d’Education de la Légion d’Honneur” (a school for the children of those holding the Légion d’honneur) and several archaeological remains, which can be seen in the city museum. But Saint-Denis also boasts many buildings impressive for their modernism, designed by well-known architects such as Simounet, Ciriani, Gaudin and Oscar Niemeyer.
ith the passing of time and developments in economic and industrial areas, Saint-Denis’ population has gradually gained a variety of people from different ethnic backgrounds, who have in turn made the city a universal meeting place. Its culture has been vastly enriched by this ethnic injection, a feature of life in Saint-Denis of which the city is justly proud. And while many celebrated cultural events regularly take place there, such as its music and “Acteurs à l’écran” festivals, the book fair, and performances at its famous theatre, Saint-Denis is also a city with a high profile in the sports world, and annually hosts an international athletics meeting.
he World Cup at Saint-Denis represents far more than the 9 matches and the opening and closing ceremonies that are to be staged there. It’s even more than a gigantic stadium that gets handsomer every day – it’s even more than an already fantastic adventure!
rom the outset, the City Council of Saint-Denis has wanted to involve as many people as possible in the preparations for the event. The football logo is already proudly displayed throughout the city through a street exhibition tracing the history of the Football World Cup, and a year away from kick-off, Saint-Denis has launched a World Cup countdown system, inaugurated on 9 June at the main junction in the city centre.