Residence Les Jardins de Bourbons

The funerary monuments inside the Basilica are worthy of detailed study. There are several scattered around since the tombs are not in chronological order. In fact without an audioguide (highly recommended), visiting the church becomes a treasure hunt, even with a map. Nearest the entry is the tomb of Louis d?Orleans and others of his clan. Beyond it is the Urn of Francois I (mentioned and illustrated in a Customs Tip). and then the mausoleum of Francis I and his first wife Claude.(by de l?Orme and Bontemps). Up the right stairs are the kneeling and praying figures of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette (done in 1816). On the far side are two large structures. The most elaborate, figure-studded one is for Louis XI and Anne de Bretagne. The next one on is more severe and is that of Henri II and Catherine de Medici . The dead figures lying at the lower level revolted her so a the later version of the two of them lies further on (see Customs Tips). Some of the details on the tombs are in a subsequent Tip.