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The Pantheon, Paris

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Originally commissioned as a church in 1744, under Louis XV, the Pantheon in Paris wasn’t actually finished until 1789. And at that time, churches were not popular anymore and instead this building became a temple honoring various historical French figures.

The Pantheon is situated in the Latin quarters, where it is considered one of the neighborhood’s most important landmarks. In terms of architecture, this magnificent landmark is a good example of Neoclassicism and its façade is modeled on the Pantheon in Rome. It is surmounted by a small dome that looks very much like that of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London. The building also has a very Greek cross-plan, and a massive portico of Corinthian columns. This is a vast building, that is 110 meters long and 84 meters wide – and, astonishingly, 83 meters high. The Pantheon looks out over all of Paris.

The architect behind the Pantheon, Jacques-Germain Soufflot, supposedly wanted his building to be a mix between a gothic cathedral lightness and brightness and classical principles. Unfortunately, Soufflot died before his plans were realized and his wishes were not fulfilled. But even though his vision was not completed, The Pantheon is still one of the first great neoclassical monuments in Paris, and in the world.

The Pantheon, Paris

There is an inscription above the entrance to this stunning building reads AUX HOMMES LA PATRIE RECONNAISSANTE, or, FOR GREAT MEN THE GRATEFUL NATION. And, when you look at what this site holds inside, you can certainly understand the inscription.

Inside the Pantheon, the walls are very ornate. If you walk inside you’ll find a crypt where more than 70 very famous and important historical personalities’ remains are resting. These include Rousseau, Curie (the only woman to be honored here), Dumas and even Voltaire.

The Pantheon is very close to the Sorbonne and the Jardin du Luxembourg. From the colonnade around the dome you can see out across Paris. But note that this view is only available when you have a guide (they are free) with you, and during regular hours – this is all for security reasons. If you want to see the magnificent Pantheon from the streets of Paris, you can best see it from the Jardin du Luxembourg or the Rue Soufflot.

There is a small entry fee to enter the Pantheon, and the site is open regular business hours most of the year – but we would recommend always checking this before you set out. And, if you want to see the view – you can only do this in the summer or spring, during the winter months the colonnade around the dome is closed to the public.

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