French history is full of incredible characters, great heroes, wonderful writers, fantastic scientists, and countless great people who contributed not only to the development of France, but to the entire world. Today, many of them are resting in the Pantheon in Paris.
It is common that, in several countries, pantheons are built where national heroes are honored. France, of course, could not be the exception, so it began the construction of its own Pantheon in 1764.
The monument was completed in 1790, and at the time it was the most recognizable building in the French capital. During its early years, no other Parisian monument, not even the Notre Dame Cathedral, could match the grandeur of the Pantheon.
This is located in the popular Latin Quarter, near the beautiful Luxembourg Gardens. The Pantheon of Paris has a neoclassical style, highlighting its great dome and its imposing pillars. Its appearance makes it quite similar to the famous Roman Pantheon, one of the many icons of the Italian capital.
One of his curiosities is that the original plan was for this to be a Catholic church. In fact, the Pantheon in Paris was recognized as such almost a century after its inauguration. Currently, it is considered as a Classified Historical Monument.
Among the most notable features of the Pantheon, is its architecture and interior decoration. The building is a mix of neoclassical and gothic, and its internal spaces are beautifully decorated.
Inside the Pantheon we can also find different works of art, especially religious ones. The paintings dedicated to Joan of Arc and various other saints of Catholicism stand out.
Among the illustrious characters that are buried here, we can mention some of the most relevant:
Victor Hugo, Marie Curie, Pierre Curie, Louis Braille, Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, René Cassin, Èmile Zola, Alexandre Dumas, Jean Jaures, Jean Monnet, Jean Moulin.
Most of these tombs are decorated with fine statues and sculptures, representing the work that these illustrious people carried out during their lives, as well as demonstrating their impact on French society.
In the same way, in the Pantheon in Paris it is possible to find plaques and inscriptions that commemorate more than a thousand French citizens whose works also marked the country, as well as tributes to the Gallic soldiers who fought in the First World War.
The Pantheon was erected as a church dedicated to Saint Geneviève, patron saint of Paris, during the French Revolution it was transformed into a secular mausoleum and during World War II the crypt served the French Resistance as a hiding place and a secret refuge.
In 1851 Napoleon Bonaparte authorized the physicist Léon Foucault to perform an experiment inside the Pantheon to demonstrate the rotation of the Earth. For the evidence he used a large pendulum, known since then as Foucault’s pendulum. A replica of the pendulum has been installed in the Pantheon since 1995.
The amazing dome supported by columns arranged in a circle is inspired or reminiscent of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and St. Paul’s Cathedral in London.
The Pantheon of Paris is one of the many must-sees of this European city, the place opens its doors to visitors almost all year round, with some changes in the hours and days of access.
In order to enter, you have to buy a ticket, while minors have free access.
The location of the Pantheon in Paris is fairly central, and other tourist attractions such as the Latin Quarter, Luxembourg Gardens and the Cluny Museum are easy to reach. Notre Dame Cathedral is also a close neighbor of the Pantheon.
Share it:
© 2021 All rights reserved TRIP AIM
Made in ❤ TripAim
