Pantheon, Paris

Pantheon is the secular burial place of many notable people who helped to form the history and identity of France, such as Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, and Marie Curie. Built from 1764 to 1790, this monument is a masterpiece by the famous architect Soufflot, who built it as a church in dedication to St. Genevieve. This early example of neoclassical architecture has a façade modeled on the Pantheon in Rome, topped by a dome that owes some of its character to Bramante's "Tempietto." From the outside, marvel at the massive portico of Corinthian columns as well as the triple dome. Inside, you can't help but to notice the coffered inner dome covered with an ornately painted fresco by Antoine Gros, called "The Apotheosis of Saint Genevieve." Make Pantheon a part of your Paris vacation plans using our Paris day trip planning app.