The Pantheon is a historical construction, situated in the Latin Quarter of Paris overlooking the Eiffel Tower. In the initial stage of its inception, the Pantheon was a Neo-classical church devoted to St. Genevieve. In course of time, the Pantheon passed through several phases of changes and ultimately emerged as a well-known monument and mausoleum in Paris.
As one of the earliest instances of Neoclassicism, the domed facade of the Pantheon in Paris bears resemblances with that of the Pantheon in Rome. Positioned in the V arrondissement, above the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, the Parisian Pantheon offers a panoramic view of the entire city. Designed by the architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot, this historical erection blends the brilliance and aura of Gothic architecture with an underlying classical touch. These special architectural features contribute much in making this Parisian monument one of the best instances of Neoclassical architecture.
History of The Pantheon
Originally, the Pantheon was a church, representing
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Neo-classical style and architecture during the 1770s. Almost a century later in 1851, the Pantheon was used by the famous physicist Léon Foucault to prove the Earth's rotation. It was under the central domed roof of the Pantheon that Foucault placed his renowned Foucault pendulum measuring 67 meters. However, this Parisian monument derived its new artistic look very recently on 15th September, 2006 when an artist from Brazil, Ernesto Neto introduced an anthropomorphic style therein.
Burial Ground in The Pantheon
The cemetery inside the Pantheon houses the graves of a number of famous French personalities, belonging to different creative spheres. People visiting the Pantheon burial ground come across the graves of people like Rousseau, Voltaire, Toussaint, Victor Hugo, Louverture, Marie Sk?odowska-Curie, Alexandre Dumas, Émile Zola, Louis Braille, Soufflot, Marat, Jean Jaurès, Jean Moulin, and several others. By burying these great men in the graveyard at Pantheon, France intends to honor them and remember them even after their death.
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