Panthéon : self-guided visit

A masterpiece created by Soufflot (1713-1780) and a former church, during the French Revolution the Panthéon became the burial place for famous French personalities. The Pantheon pays tribute to one of the greatest French architects, Jacques-Germain Soufflot. This exhibition presents his career and his monumental achievements which marked the Enlightenment, the most famous being the royal church of Sainte-Geneviève, the current Pantheon.

With the Pantheon, architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot met Louis XV's to glorify the monarchy in the form of a church dedicated to Saint Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. The edifice was deconsecrated during the Revolution in 1791 and renamed the Pantheon. During the turbulent years of the 19th century, as regimes changed, it alternated in its role as religious and patriotic monument.

Since 1885, the year of Victor Hugo's death and burial in the Pantheon, it has been the last resting place for the great writers, scientists, generals, churchmen and politicians who have made the history of France. The crypt houses the tombs of more than 70 illustrious figures including Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Emile Zola, Alexandre Dumas, Pierre and Marie Curie etc.

PLEASE NOTE :

The visit is free for under 18s as well as 18-25 year olds from countries within the European Union. The free ticket must be picked up at the ticket office at the entrance.

The Panthéon is free and accessible to everyone on July 14th.

As part of the Vigipirate program security controls are put in place at the entrance of Parisian museums and monuments. In case of a large attendance, these controls can create a waiting time which cannot be skipped.

Crédits photos : © Benjamin Gavaudo, © Christian Gluckman, © Gilles Codina, © Guillaume de Roquemaurel