The Panthéon
During our family vacation to France, we visited the Panthéon in the Latin Quarter of Paris. Its massive columns, triangular pediment, and soaring dome give it the appearance of an ancient temple standing in the middle of the modern city.
The building was commissioned by King Louis XV as a church dedicated to Saint Geneviève, the patron saint of Paris. Completed near the beginning of the French Revolution, it was soon transformed into a national monument honoring the men and women whose lives helped shape France.
Among those interred within the Panthéon are Voltaire, Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, and Marie Curie. Each represents a different part of France’s intellectual, literary, scientific, and political history. The building is therefore more than an architectural landmark. It reflects the people and ideas the nation has chosen to remember.
Visiting the Panthéon with Marty and our daughters gave us a deeper understanding of Paris and its history. Within this imposing monument, we discovered the stories of the writers, scientists, and leaders whose ideas and accomplishments helped shape France.
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