Dominating the skyline of the Latin Quarter from the top of its hill, the Panthéon is a grand neoclassical monument that serves as the final resting place of France’s national heroes. Part church, part mausoleum, part science museum, it’s an awe-inspiring building where you can pay your respects to some of history’s greatest minds, marvel at a famous scientific experiment, and climb to a superb view over Paris.
From Church to Temple of the Nation
The Panthéon was originally commissioned by King Louis XV as a church dedicated to Saint Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. Completed in 1790, just as the French Revolution erupted, it was swiftly repurposed as a secular “temple of the nation” to honor great citizens. Its design, inspired by the Pantheon in Rome, features a magnificent columned portico and a soaring dome that’s visible across the city.
The Crypt of Great Minds
Beneath the main floor lies the crypt, where many of France’s most celebrated figures are entombed. Here you’ll find the writers Voltaire, Rousseau, Victor Hugo, and Émile Zola; the scientist couple Marie and Pierre Curie (Marie was the first woman honored here for her own achievements); and many other heroes of French history, culture, and resistance. It’s a moving roll-call of human achievement.
Foucault’s Pendulum
One of the Panthéon’s most famous features is a recreation of Foucault’s Pendulum. In 1851, the physicist Léon Foucault hung a pendulum from the dome here to demonstrate, for the first time in such a clear and public way, that the Earth rotates. Watching the pendulum slowly swing beneath the great dome, gradually shifting its path, is a wonderful, tangible piece of scientific history.
Climbing the Dome
In the warmer months, you can usually climb up to the colonnade around the dome for one of the best panoramic views in Paris. From this lofty vantage point you can see the Eiffel Tower, the Luxembourg Gardens, Notre-Dame, and the rooftops of the Latin Quarter spread out below. The climb is well worth the effort for the view alone.
Planning Your Visit
The Panthéon is in the Latin Quarter, a short walk from the Luxembourg Gardens and the Cardinal Lemoine or Maubert–Mutualité stations. There’s an admission charge, with the dome climb seasonal and weather-dependent. Allow around an hour, plus extra for the dome. It combines beautifully with a stroll through the Latin Quarter and a visit to the nearby Luxembourg Gardens.
More Paris guides: explore the full Paris Travel Guides series.
