The Solo Scale:

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There’s no shortage of fantastic places to visit in Paris. There’s something of note every twenty steps, whether those are churches, incredible structures, museums, or things more off the beaten track. In the Latin Quarter, you can find a combination of many of those things in the Panthéon. This is where history, science, architecture, and even a hint of the macabre come together. It’s a visit that covers so many bases and is definitely worth a visit. Let’s cover some of the highlights of what you’ll find!

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The History & The Notable People

One of the main draws for the Panthéon is that it’s the final resting place of many notable people from history. In addition, you can find many monuments dedicated to famous French figures.

This includes Antoine de Saint-Exupery (author of Le Petit Prince), Victor Hugo (author of Les Miserables), Voltaire & Rousseau (famous French philosophers). Notably, the first woman buried there in 1995 (moved there) was Marie Curie. Since then, however, more women have been given spaces or memorials in the Panthéon.

The memorials indicate that the person is not buried in the Panthéon — simply recognized with a cenotaph or something similar. You can spend a good bit of time exploring these areas, and typically, they’re not very crowded!

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The Science

One of the most unique draws of the Panthéon in Paris is Foucault’s pendulum. It hasn’t been permanently at the Panthéon, but rather, has kept resurfacing and continues to draw interest thanks to the scientific interest of tourists and locals alike.

It was first installed in the mid-1800’s in an experiment. Napoleon used the opportunity to invite guests to witness Foucault’s experiment in motion. The general happenings of history then got in the way, but the experiment returned fifty years later and then finally, once more, when it was permanently installed in 1995. That’s the same pendulum that you can witness today if you visit.

Want to learn more about the pendulum? Read about the history of Foucault’s pendulum at the website for the Panthéon here.

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The Architecture

The grandiose dome that marks the Panthéon is an architectural marvel. The sheer size of it and the magnificent columns make it visible from most vantage points in Paris at a certain height. Standing tall atop the rest of the building, it’s incredible. It’s doubly so when you head inside.

There is a bit of a mixed sense of decor when you’re inside. The pendulum swings, there’s monuments to history, and downstairs, notable people are laid to rest. As a result, it doesn’t quite feel like a museum or a church or a historical place of note because it’s all three at the same time.

In my experience, the Panthéon is a slept on hidden gem. It may have grown more popular in recent years, but given how many incredible thing it combines, it’s still not going to be as recognized as it should be.

Want to learn more about the Panthéon? Check out the website to plan your visit.

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