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The Pantheon Paris (Latin Pantheon, from Greek Pantheon, meaning "Every god") is a building in the Latin Quarter
of Paris, France. It was originally built as a church dedicated to St. Genevieve, but after many changes now
combines liturgical functions with its role as a famous burial place. It is an early example of Neoclassicism, with a
facade modelled after the Pantheon in Rome surmounted by a dome that owes some of its character to Bramante's "Tempietto".

Located in the 5th arrondissement on the Montagne Sainte-Geneviève, the Panthéon looks out over all of Paris. Its
architect, Jacques-Germain Soufflot, had the intention of combining the lightness and brightness of the gothic
cathedral with classical principles. Soufflot died before his work was achieved, and his plans were not entirely
followed. The transparency he had planned for his masterpiece was not attained. Nevertheless, it is one of the
most important architectural achievements of its time and the first great neoclassical monument.

As with most famed buildings, the Pantheon Paris has its unique story. The reason the it was was built was to
replace the damaged Sainte-Genevieve church under the orders of Louis XV who was putting this monument up as
a gratitude to God after his health had recovered. Soufflot was chosen for accomplishing the task. He wanted to
have the Gothic style combined with the classical structure. Because of financial problems, Soufflot could not finish
the building during his life; he died before seeing it completed and his pupil who finished it, did not exactly have the
same ideas of his master and made some changes. However there is little doubt that this building is one of the greatest neoclassical monuments and a true masterpiece.

Shortly after the Pantheon was built (which was called back then the Sainte-Genevieve Church), came the French
Revolution. It was then when the Revolutionist government changed the church into a mausoleum, a place to
burry exceptional Frenchmen who had sacrificed their lives for their country or who had done something great for
France. The Pantheon flipped back and forth to a church over the years but eventually assumed its lasting role as
a burial place for martyrs and brilliant French citizens for good.

The sight that this building offers is quite fantastic. You can see literally see almost all of Paris. The inside
architecture is visually amazing: it has the Gothic decorations combined with the mainly classical style of the
building, creating such an admirable neoclassical monument. The Pantheon is a must-see when you visit Paris,
both because of the imposing architecture it has and in respect to the people that made the world a better place.

The Pantheon Crypt

The Pantheon has a crypt which is in the subterranean chamber which is the final resting place for many well known (and some historically famous) French writers, poets and scientists. These important people include

1. Voltaire
2. Rousseau
3. Victor Hugo
4. Marat
5. Emile Zola
6. Jean Moulin
7. Soufflot
8. Louis Braille
9. Marie Curie

Model: Carmen Obied

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Visakhapatnam, India

Abbey Gardens, Bury St Edmunds

St Edmund, Elizabeth Frink, 1976, commissioned by West Suffolk County Council to mark their abolition in 1974. Moving statue of St Edmund, based on brasses of twelfth-century crusaders.
Bury St Edmunds, UK