Panthéon

About this place

Designed by Jacques-Germain Soufflot and built between 1758 and 1790, the Panthéon was originally intended as a church dedicated to Saint Genevieve. The French Revolution changed that purpose, turning it into a resting place for distinguished citizens. Its history includes further shifts between religious and civic use. The classical architecture therefore carries several layers of meaning. As you explore, consider how the choice of people commemorated here reflects changing ideas about national identity, public service and the individuals a society wishes to remember.