Photo courtesy of Place du Pantheon Paris photo by Paige Donner 10BEST copyright 2014
Photo courtesy of Wiki Commons
Photo courtesy of Paige Donner
Photo courtesy of Wiki Commons
Photo courtesy of Paige Donner
Photo courtesy of Wiki Commons
Photo courtesy of xzjw83
Photo courtesy of Paige Donner

Pantheon

Item: Pantheon
Author: Paige Donner

Type: Religious Sites

10Best Says

Generally speaking, when one thinks of the Pantheon here in Paris, it brings to mind the entombed great men, and now even a few women, who grace France's history books. And now Josephine Baker is included as one of these illustrious women. She also breaks new ground as being the first American-born person to be honored with this distinction. Originally built in the 18th c. as a sanctuary for the patron saint of Paris, Ste. Genevieve, the monument today is open to visitors and offers free guided tours (in French) several times a day. Classical architecture modeled on the Pantheon in Rome distinguishes this stately structure, which features both a dramatic portico and a colonnaded dome. Although "pantheon" originally referred to a temple for all gods, this building serves as the final resting place for some of France's most prestigious citizens, including Victor Hugo, Marie and Pierre Curie, Voltaire, and Emile Zola. METRO: Cardinal Lemoine

Address:

Place du Pantheon
Paris, 75005

Phone:

01 44 32 18 00

Website:

pantheon.monuments-nationaux.fr

EXPERT TIPS BY: Paige Donner
Former Contributor

Things to Do in December: "Josephine Baker has just been inducted into the Pantheon. This is truly historical because not only is she an American woman (France was her adopted country) but her person-of-color status also sets her apart as unique in the Pantheon. Don't forget to look for "Foucault's Pendulum" hanging from the dome. You can even walk from the Pantheon to Place de la Contrescarpe in an easy 15 minutes. The four people French President Hollande named to the honor of the Pantheon in 2014 are two men and two women, all who fought in the French Resistance to the Nazis during WWII. The women are Genevieve de Gaulle-Athonioz, a niece of Charles de Gaulle, Germaine Tillion and now as of 2021 the first black American-born woman, Josephine Baker, thanks to the Macron administration."

Best for Things to Do in December Because: As of 2019 there were 72 men and 5 women buried at the Pantheon. Now thanks to Macron there is a 6th woman, Josephine Baker!