Pantheon of Paris

When we visited Paris for 2 days in May we decided that we would visit the Pantheon Paris. We decided to visit the Paris Panthéon. Originally a church it is now a civic building. Although the inside of the Panthéon of Paris still looks very much like a catholic church. This makes sense since it was intended to be. The building was commissioned by French King Louis XV and was completed the year that the French Revolution broke out in 1789. Once the royal family were no more it was turned into a mausoleum. Although it was converted back to a church several times over the years, today it is a temple of man. Having visited the Pantheon in Italy several times I was intrigued by this French monument. And I have to admit I was surprised by what we found in the interior of the Pantheon Paris.

Pantheon of Paris

The Pantheon of Paris is not Roman although the rumour is that the overall design was based on Rome’s Pantheon. We are big lovers of Italy and so I did not expect that I would prefer the French monument over the Italian one. Like many tourists, we had no idea that the monument designed by architect Jacques-Germain Soufflot even existed. It was definitely quieter than some of the others we visited. Which added to the charm and meant it was a lot easier to take pictures. There was just about enough to keep the boys entertained and you do not have to stay too long to take it all in. It is such an important part of French history we really enjoyed our visit. 

How to get to the Pantheon of Paris

The Paris Pantheon is located in the Latin Quarter of Paris, atop the Montagne Sainte-Genevièv. Which is in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, France. When visiting the Pantheon Paris the nearest metro station is Gare d’Austerlitz is on the 10 line. It is around a five-minute walk from the motor station, and google maps do work in the area.

Although we actually walked to the Pantheon of Paris from Hotel de la Marine which took us through Tuileries Gardens, past the Louvre and along the River Seine. Where we spotted lots of stalls selling paintings, old books and posters. It took around half an hour to forty minutes and we picked some lovely macaroons from a street market on the way to keep the boys going. Alternatively, you could consider an electric tuk-tuk, or catching a boat along the river. Which is something we would like to do if we ever return. 

How much does it cost to visit the Paris Pantheon?

One of the first questions that come up on google is, is the Paris Pantheon free? And the answer to the question is yes… well sometimes. Unless you are extremely lucky with the timing of your trip then you will most likely need to pay. It is free on the first Sunday of the month but only during the low season which runs from November the 1st to March the 31st. Otherwise, children under the age of 18 get free admission. Adult tickets cost 11.50€. They also offer a combined ticket with Saint Denis Basilica for 16€. The key though is that you have to book online in advance to visit the Pantheon of Paris. This is easily done via the Centre des Monuments Nationaux website. 

Is the Pantheon of Paris worth visiting – what are you going to see

You can not help but go WOW as you walk into the interior of the Pantheon Paris it is such a vast building. The area is vast and floor-to-ceiling paintings line the walls. It is a work of art in its own right. This is what really stands this apart from the Roman Pantheon. But there are a number of things that make it worth visiting. 

• As you walk into the centre then make sure you look up to see inside the painted large dome.
• Keep a look out for the Joan of Arc murals, the paintings of scenes that dictate her story.
• Close to the centre is foucault’s pendulum. The original pendulum was first installed in 1851 and removed then reinstalled in 1995. Although the foucault pendulum was not working on the day we visited the pendulum demonstrates the rotation of the Earth. So is definitely worth a ponder and great for the kids.
• There is a small model of the Paris Pantheon is one of the side rooms that shows the scale of the building and one that the boys enjoyed.
• There is also a number of different artworks displayed in glass cabinets in the main area. These do change regularly. 
• It is possible to climb onto the balcony via 270 steps but it gives good views across Paris. Unfortunately, this was also shut when we visited. Which is a real shame.

The Crypt

Is anyone buried at the Pantheon? Yes, around 70 people have been buried in the interior of the mausoleum. There is a permanent exhibition running which gives details of some of the famous French citizens that have found their final resting place within the walls. Scientists, famous writers, painters and key political personnel are all buried within its walls. Interactive screens in several different languages including English tell you about them and their life work.

Some of the more famous include Marie Curie who was the first woman to be buried there, along with her husband Pierre Curie. Other great men who call it their burial place include Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Louis Braille, Emile Zola, Jean Moulin, Alexandre Dumas and Voltaire. It sounds a bit morbid but it is done in a very well-framed way and the boys were genuinely interested in the famous french heroes.

Visiting the Paris Pantheon with kids

I was actually quite impressed with the setup of the interior of the Pantheon Paris. It is possible to download a dedicated game booklet for th children although we did not do this as there was no information about this. So definitely one to do in advance. But the boys were quite happy with the interactive screens which are available in French, German, English, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Arabic.

They also really enjoyed the crypt. I think the secret when bringing the children is to accept you probably have around forty minutes or an hour at most to enjoy the main areas, before visiting the roof. In our experience, this is plenty of time to take it all in. So in answer to the question how long do you need to spend at the Paris Pantheon? I would suggest an hour at most. Which makes it a great stop if your time is limited. 

Top Tips for a visit

• Like many of the other French monuments, you can not take large bags inside. Suitcases and large backpacks need to stay at the hotel
• There is a tour app which you can download and audio guides are available in 11 languages at an extra cost of 2.50€ each.
• Although close to other tourist attractions it seems to be missed by the majority so it is likely to be quiet when you visit the pantheon Paris when compared to some of the more popular attractions. 
• Photos are allowed throughout the interior of the Pantheon Paris although you are not allowed to use them for commercial purposes. 
• It is close to Luxembourg Gardens if the kids need some green space afterwards

Related blog posts

If you are considering a trip to Paris then you may also be interested in some of the other things we got up to on our trip with kids. 

• We were in Paris for a full two days when you take into account travel time this is what w got up to – 2 Day Paris Itinerary
• The Eiffel tower tends to be on everyone’s list we visited on our first night with the aim of seeing the sunset albeit it didn’t quite work out like that! Do not make the same mistakes we did- Visiting the Eiffel Tower at Sunset
• I had no idea that you could go inside and get amazing views of the Eiffel Tower – Arc de Triomphe
• Were we mad taking the boys to the Palace of Versailles? Maybe but here are some top tips for your visit – A day trip to Versailles

Related posts if travelling with kids

• If like us this. is the first time you have brought your kids. to the city of lights then this will help – 13 Tips to make your trip great.
• When in Paris it is a great idea to pick up some of the theme parks either on the way down from Calais or on the way back up. There are two we visited, I can not recommend Parc Asterix enough and it is only an hour north of the city – Parc Asterix a complete guide, What is Filotomatix and how do you use it and Our stay at Les Quais de Lutece.
• We also visited Disney on our 10-Day Parisian Holiday, staying at Center Parcs Paris – Les Villages Nature Paris. If you do intend on visiting Disneyland Paris then read our – Top tips for planning a day trip to Disney.
• For all the information you need on rides including top tips for each, height restrictions and information about direct access passes then this post is for you – The ultimate guide to Disneyland Paris rides.

Would you visit the Pantheon Paris? I would love to hear your thought in the comments below. 

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