Situated in the heart of the Latin Quarter, the Panthéon is an awe-inspiring secular temple dedicated to the great men – and women! - of the nation. However, behind its imposing peristyle and its dome visible from afar, this superb building conceals many secrets.
A temple dedicated to the heroes of France
Since the French Revolution, the Panthéon has been firmly linked to the Republic and the national heroes for whom it is a last resting place, but this was not always so. Despite its architecture reminiscent of Greek antiquity, the Panthéon was initially designed to be a church, as decreed by Louis XV. The building was deconsecrated during the Revolution but was twice restored to church usage during the 19th century, only regaining its secular vocation under the Third Republic.
Who to include?
Although the question of the panthéonisation of this or that person comes up regularly in the news, the debate is not new. There are various accounts of notables who were to be interred there and never were, such as Descartes and Viala, or others who were panthéonised but whose remains were later removed, including Marat and Mirabeau. Although primarily a shrine to heroes, the Panthéon is also a place of science, lending itself to key experiments: Foucault's pendulum, the TSF or even as the fundamental point of the New French Triangulation...
Visiting the Panthéon offers an opportunity to pay your respects in front of the tombs of the likes of Simone Veil, Jean Moulin, Victor Hugo, Jean Jaurès and many more greats. It also conceals many secrets that makes a visit even more exciting. Discover them during your stay at the Hotel Eiffel Blomet.
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Photo: daliu
Hotel Eiffel Blomet, a 4-star hotel in the heart of the 15th arrondissement