Visit the Panthéon, originally a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, now a secular mausoleum containing the remains of distinguished French citizens. Located in the Latin Quarter, it offers panoramic city views from its dome.

• Pantheon Priority Entrance

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  €0
• Paris Latin Quarter Guided Walking Tour Pantheon Entry

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  €0
• Notre-Dame to Panthéon Guided Tour + Panthéon Entry

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  €40
• Pantheon Basilica Of Saint Denis

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  €0
• Paris Latin Quarter Walking Tour + Panthéon Entry

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  €67

About Panthéon

Commissioned by Louis XV in 1755, the Panthéon was originally intended as a church dedicated to Sainte Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. Designed by architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot, the structure was a revolutionary blend of neoclassical majesty and Gothic lightness, inspired by the Pantheon in Rome and St Paul's Cathedral in London. Before the building was even finished, the French Revolution transformed its purpose. In 1791, the National Assembly decreed that the church should instead serve as a temple to liberty and a final resting place for the 'great men of the era of French liberty.' This shift from sacred to secular remains a defining characteristic of the site today. The exterior is dominated by a massive portico featuring 22 Corinthian columns and a pediment sculpted by David d'Angers. Inside, the sheer scale of the triple-shelled dome and the Greek-cross floor plan create an atmosphere of immense grandeur, further enhanced by monumental frescoes depicting the life of Saint Geneviève and the origins of the French monarchy. In the center of the nave hangs a replica of Foucault’s Pendulum, first installed in 1851 to provide a visible demonstration of the Earth's rotation. This scientific marvel serves as a reminder of the Panthéon’s role as a temple of reason and intellectual achievement. The crypt is the heart of the monument's commemorative mission. Organized into various galleries, it houses the tombs of icons such as Rousseau, Émile Zola, and Alexandre Dumas. Notably, Marie Curie was the first woman to be interred here based on her own merits, joining a roll call of national heroes that continues to grow with occasional new inductions.

FAQ

History

<p>The story of the Panthéon is tightly interwoven with the turbulent history of France itself. Its origins trace back to an oath made by King Louis XV in 1744. Stricken with illness, he vowed to replace the ruined Abbey of Saint Genevieve with a magnificent church dedicated to Paris's patron saint should he recover. When he did, Jacques-Germain Soufflot, a prominent architect, was commissioned to design a grand Neoclassical edifice. Construction began in 1758, aiming for a structure that rivaled the great churches of Rome, but Soufflot did not live to see its completion.</p><p>The French Revolution dramatically altered the building's purpose. Just as it was nearing completion in 1791, the National Constituent Assembly decreed its transformation from a church into a mausoleum for the nation's great men, declaring, "Aux grands hommes la Patrie reconnaissante" (To great men, the grateful Homeland). Mirabeau was the first to be interred, setting a precedent for honoring those who contributed significantly to French society. Over the following centuries, the building oscillated between its ecclesiastical and civic roles, reflecting the political changes of France – a church under Napoleon, returned to a pantheon, then a church again, until its final designation as a secular mausoleum after the death of Victor Hugo in 1885.</p><p>One remarkable anecdote centers around Foucault's Pendulum. Léon Foucault first demonstrated his famous experiment here in 1851, proving the Earth's rotation to a captivated public. The original pendulum, a 67-meter wire with a 28-kilogram brass bob, was reinstalled in the Panthéon in 1995 (a replica hangs there today). This scientific exhibit perfectly encapsulates the spirit of enlightenment and intellectual curiosity that the Panthéon embodies, blending science, history, and architectural splendor under one magnificent dome. The Panthéon today stands as a powerful symbol of French republican values, a permanent tribute to the intellect, courage, and creativity that have shaped the nation.</p>

• Multi-attraction access
• Skip-the-line entry
• Better value than single tickets
• Free cancellation on most passes

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