Pantheon visitor guide

Visit Pantheon, Paris

The Pantheon is situated in the Latin quarter of central Paris, a short distance south of the Ile de la Cité and Notre Dame de Paris. It is one of the neighbourhood’s (the 5th arrondissement) - and indeed the city's - most important landmarks.

From its elevated position, the Pantheon looks out over much of Paris, and the Eiffel Tower can be seen at the other end of the long avenue in front of the Pantheon.

Discover the Pantheon

France This Way review: the Pantheon is impressive from the outside, and even more impressive inside, where it combines beautiful architecture, great artworks, a beautiful vault and other features of interest: it is one of our favourite destinations in Paris

Pantheon history and architecture

Originally commissioned in 1744 as a church, under Louis XV, the Pantheon in Paris wasn’t finished until 1789, by which time the revolution had arrived and churches were no longer considered important, so the building became a temple honoring various historical French figures instead.

In terms of architecture this magnificent landmark is an example of the Neoclassicism style popular in the 18th century, with a façade that is modeled on the Pantheon in Rome. The Pantheon is surmounted by a dome that looks very much like that of Saint Paul’s Cathedral in London.

dome of the Pantheon in Paris

Following the classical style, the building has a Greek cross plan, and a massive portico of Corinthian columns. This is a vast building, that is 110 meters long and 84 meters wide – and, astonishingly, 83 meters high.

It is said that Jacques-Germain Soufflot, the architect behind the Pantheon, wanted his building to combine the lightness and brightness of a gothic cathedral with classical architectural principles.

Unfortunately, Soufflot died before his plans were realised and his wishes were not fulfilled but even though his vision was not completed, the Pantheon was still one of the first great neoclassical monuments to be built in Paris, and in fact in the world.

There is an inscription above the entrance to the building that reads AUX HOMMES LA PATRIE RECONNAISSANTE which translated broadly means THE GRATEFUL NATION RECOGNISES GREAT MEN.

Pause as you enter the building: the detail and workmanship in the porch area and ceiling is very impressive.

Inside the Pantheon

The inside of the Pantheon is vast. The walls are very ornate, and as well as the main dome there are several smaller domes and numerous marble columns, and decorated floors.

In the centre of the Pantheon you can see a replica of the original Foucault's pendulum, and around the edges there are many impressive artworks, mostly statues.

Among the highlights for us were:

an ensemble of statues called "The National Convention" by Francois Sicard, with Marianne at the centre, and peasants and soldiers crowded each side below here feet, to remind us of the importance of the French Revolution: below the feet of Marianne you can read the inscription "Live Free of Die"
a statue called "To the memory of artists whose names have been lost" by Paul Landowski, that reminds us that many artists have been forgotten by the passage of time
a statue called "To the unknown heroes who gave their lives for France" by Louis Henri Bouchard, with statues representing Glory and Memory standing above the bodies of soldiers lying dead in the trenches

There are other artworks around the walls, and a series of contemporary art items that also commemorate those who died in the First World War.

From the interior you can access the crypt where the remains of more than 70 very famous and important historical personalities are interred including Victor Hugo (the first to be buried here), Rousseau, Madame Curie (the only woman to be honored here), Dumas and Voltaire, Zola and Simone Veil and others, following the 'grateful nation recognises its great men' theme of the inscription above the entrance.

The crypt is also an architectural highlight of a visit, with a main entrance area and then many corridors leading off to the tombs, very calm and reflective and with soft lighting, and very much in contrast to the resplendent interior of the Pantheon above.

crypte beneath the Pantheon

Visiting the Pantheon

The Pantheon is close to the Sorbonne and the Jardin du Luxembourg, and from the colonnade around the dome you can see out across Paris. Note that this view is only available when you have a guide with you (they are free) and during regular hours – this is all for security reasons.

It costs a few euros to enter the Pantheon, and you should reserve your ticket in advance. If you want to see the view from the colonnade you can only do this in the summer or spring, since the colonnade around the dome is closed to the public during the winter months.

There are no Metro stations very close to the Pantheon: you will need to walk from Place Monge station on line 7, or Cardinal Lemoine on line 10. There are buses that get closer if you prefer not to walk.

Attractions nearby

The oldest historic site in Paris, the Arènes de Lutece, is a short distance from the Panthéon.

One popular site in this area of Paris is the Jardin du Luxembourg, and to the east you can visit the greenhouses of the Jardin des Plantes, as well as the museums in the gardens.

You can find more travel ideas in the Paris region guide.

To make travel arrangements to visit Pantheon see HERE