Walking food tour in the Latin Quarter, Paris

Pantheon

The temple of the French nation. With the Panthéon, architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot fulfills Louis XV's wish to glorify the monarchy in the form of a church dedicated to Saint Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. The Revolution of 1789 transforms the monument into a temple dedicated to Great Men. During the tumultuous years of the 19th century, as regimes changed, it alternates between its role as a religious and patriotic monument. Since 1885, the year of Victor Hugo's death and burial in the Panthéon, it has been the final resting place for great writers, scientists, generals, clergymen, and politicians who have shaped 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, and, since July 1, 2018, Simone Veil.