Pantheon in Paris
Here are five amazing things you can do at the Pantheon
1.) Visit the Pantheon
Once you’ve crossed the threshold discover the imposing neo-classical architecture and a Foucault’s pendulum, a device conceived to demonstrate that Earth rotates. Don’t miss the vast crypt where you will admire incredible graves, and from the top, enjoy one of the best views of Paris!
2.) Paris Latin Quarter Walking Tours
Do you want to discover the maze and milestones of the Latin Quarter? Do you wish to understand why it is called this way and why it is such an important neighbourhood of Paris? Then you definitely want to join this free tour organized by locals who will make you feel like a real Parisian in only one hour and a half!
3.) Have a drink at Bombardier
(68 rue de la Montagne Sainte-Geneviève 75005 PARIS): Certainly the most authentic English pub in Paris, people from all around the neighborhood and beyond, gather there especially for its tempting happy hour (5:00 pm – 7:00 pm) and students’ night on Monday. From inside The Bombardier, you will get an amazing view of the Pantheon – especially at night, when it is illuminated.
4.) Have lunch at Le Rostand
This typical ‘brasserie’ with its terrace overlooking the Luxembourg Garden serves French specialties. If you want to learn how to prepare some of them, you may want to join a Paris Cooking Class.
5.) Stroll around the Luxembourg Garden
These “jardins à la française” located on the Left Bank of the French capital are the perfect spot for joggers, Parisians seeking for a bit of fresh air or wishing to play tennis, and of course for kids who can find many things to do – seesaws, slides, miniature boats…
Insider’s Tips
- Make a list of the graves you want to see and do not miss the only female grave; the Nobel Prize winner Marie Curie!
- Have one of the best views of Paris’ Left Bank, the Latin Quarter and the major Parisian Landmarks reaching the Pantheon’s dome.
Facts about the Pantheon
Located at the core of the Latin Quarter, on top of the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève – rather a hill since it culminates at only 61m! high”, the Pantheon opened in 1790 after 36 years of construction work mostly conducted by Soufflot. The King of France Louis XV laid the foundation stone. Indeed, he instigated the project: in 1744, while he was very sick, he promised if he survived he would have a huge church dedicated to Sainte-Geneviève built to replace the existing Sainte-Geneviève abbey… And guess what? That is what happened!
However, nowadays, the Pantheon is no more a Christian church. Instead, it became a secular mausoleum intended to host the ‘National Heroes’. On the frontispiece of the monument is written ‘To its great men, homeland is grateful’.
Burring there is very restricted and often controversial: only a parliamentary act can allow it; but it is not rare that families oppose such an honor for one of their relatives, suspicious that such an event may be used as a means of political communication.
Among others, Mirabeau, Victor Hugo, Pierre & Marie Curie and Victor Schoelcher are buried there.
The Pantheon
This monument is a major landmark of the Latin Quarter: as soon as the first sun ray appears, all students in the neighborhood gather on the Pantheon’s forecourt to have lunch, a cigarette or simply to chat.”
TaraHow to get there
By Metro:
Stations: Maubert-Mutualité & Cardinal-Lemoine
Line 10, dark yellow
By Bus:
Lines 21, 27, 38, 82, 84, 85 or 89
- 13 million visitors a year 99%
- Incredibly detailed 80%
- Contains hidden mysteries 70%
Opening Hours
The Pantheon is open every day, 10:00 am – 6:30 pm from April to September and 10:00 am – 6:00 pm from October to March.
Near By
1.) Notre Dame Cathedral:
Literally the heart of Paris; it is also the heart of France: On the forecourt, you can spot the “zero point”, the reference to calculate distances to any other French city. Sightseeing in Paris should begin here!
2.) Odéon Theatre:
On this major Parisian stage, great actors from all over the world come to perform! It is also one of the only theaters where you will be able to enjoy plays in the original version, with subtitles.
3.) Cluny Museum:
Also known as the National Museum of Middle-Age, this museum located at the heart of the Latin Quarter is a rare remaining example of what used to be the medieval architecture in Paris. But above all, it hosts some of the greatest tapestries of the time, notably the world-wide known Lady with the Unicorn.
Why it’s worth visiting
- Because this is the place where the most famous French artists, scientists, thinker are buried.
- Because you won’t get bored in such a dynamic neighborhood as the Latin Quarter thanks to the Luxembourg Garden, the restaurants, the shops, and the Parisian rushing all day long!
- In order to see how the heart of the Latin Quarter really looks like.
