Étranger Things: The Panthéon — where France says “merci” (loudly, tearfully, and with perfect lighting)

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If you’ve ever wondered where France keeps its collective “thank-you” notes, it’s under a giant stone dome in Paris. The Panthéon isn’t just a pretty building in the Latin Quarter—it’s the national place of memory, a secular mausoleum where the Republic honors those who changed the country (and often the world). Above the portico you’ll read the motto that sets the tone: “Aux grands hommes, la patrie reconnaissante.”—“To the great [people], the grateful homeland.” (Wikipedia)

What is the Panthéon, exactly?

Born royal, raised revolutionary, now secular: the Panthéon began as a church to Sainte-Geneviève commissioned by Louis XV and designed by Jacques-Germain Soufflot (1758–1790). The Revolution flipped its mission—from church to civic temple of national gratitude—and by 1885 (Victor Hugo’s thunderous state funeral) the Third Republic fixed its role as a lay mausoleum. Architecturally, it’s Neoclassical drama with a triple stone dome; culturally, it’s France’s memory palace. (Wikipedia)

Why Parisians point at the ceiling

Because science swings there. In 1851, Léon Foucault hung a 67-meter pendulum to show the Earth turns. Today a reinstalled pendulum still fascinates visitors—and yes, the sand tracks are hypnotic. (Panthéon Paris)

How do you get “panthéonisé”?

There’s no hard-and-fast legal checklist. Selection is a head-of-state decision, meant for figures whose lives embody republican values. The choice is always symbolic—and sometimes debated—because it says as much about today’s France as about yesterday’s hero(ine). (Le Monde.fr)

Who’s inside (and why it matters right now)

Recent ceremonies show how living, and moving, this tradition is:

  • Joséphine Baker (2021) — Resistance agent, artist, civil-rights icon; first Black woman honored here (symbolic interment). The Elysée called her an embodiment of the French spirit. (elysee.fr)

  • Missak & Mélinée Manouchian (2024) — The Armenian-born Resistance leader and his comrade-spouse, honoring foreign fighters who died for France. (AP News)

  • Robert Badinter (2025) — The justice minister who abolished the death penalty; a cenotaph now honors him in the Panthéon. (Le Monde.fr)

Each induction (panthéonisation) is a national civics lesson with music, readings, and a very French blend of solemnity and show—both memorial and mirror. (Le Monde.fr)

Small note on the motto: it literally says “great men,” but in practice and policy the honor extends to women; among them Marie Curie, Simone Veil, Germaine Tillion, Geneviève de Gaulle-Anthonioz, and Joséphine Baker. Progress shows up slowly…and then all at once. (The Guardian)

What it feels like inside

Under that vast coffered dome you’ll see murals of France’s story, the slow sweep of Foucault’s pendulum, and—down in the crypt—the quiet company of Voltaire, Rousseau, Hugo, Zola, Curie, Veil and more. It’s less “tourist site” than secular cathedral of gratitude. Bring curiosity and… maybe tissues.

Visiting tips (practical & friendly)

  • When: Check official hours/closures (they vary—first Mondays open later; major holidays closed). (Panthéon Paris)

  • Where: 5ᵉ arrondissement, a short stroll from the Luxembourg Gardens. (Wikipedia)

  • Look for: The pediment by David d’Angers, the pendulum, and the crypt galleries. (Extra bonus: the view from the dome, when open.) (Wikipedia)

  • Why go: To understand how France tells its own story—curated, debated, and occasionally rewritten—in marble, music, and light.

A tiny glossary to sound très savvy

  • panthéoniser — to induct someone into the Panthéon (state honor).

  • la panthéonisation — the ceremony/process of induction.

  • “Aux grands hommes…” — the famous motto above the portico.

  • un cénotaphe — a symbolic tomb (no remains inside). (Le Monde.fr)

Mini-walk to feel the place

Come up Rue Soufflot from the Luxembourg Gardens; the dome pulls you forward like a magnet. Step under the portico; read the inscription; try not to get goosebumps. (If you do, blame the draft. And your emotions.)

Sources & further reading (just a few)

Official site (history, hours, pendulum) — excellent starting point. (Panthéon Paris)
Context on criteria & recent honors — Le Monde explainer; AP on Manouchian. (Le Monde.fr)
Elysée on Joséphine Baker (full speech, in French). (elysee.fr)
Architect & dates summary (Soufflot; 1758–1790). (Wikipedia)

Learner’s corner (A1 → Advanced)

A1

  • Phrase to practice: “On va au Panthéon ?” (Shall we go to the Panthéon?)

  • Vocab: un dôme, une crypte, une tombe, un(e) héros/héroïne.

A2

  • Task: In 3–4 sentences, say who you’d panthéoniser and why. Use parce que and one past tense.

  • Helpful frame: “Je choisirais ___ parce qu’il/elle a… Il/Elle a aidé la France quand…”

B1

  • Debate prompt: “Faut-il panthéoniser des artistes ou seulement des responsables politiques et des résistants ?” Give two arguments pour, one contre.

B2

  • Write a 150–180-word editorial on the cultural role of state funerals in a secular republic. Include one concession (e.g., certes… mais…).

Advanced/C2

  • Compare the Panthéon’s civic ritual to another nation’s site of memory (e.g., Westminster’s Poet’s Corner). Analyze how ritual creates consensus—or controversy—today.

Your turn 👇

Have you visited the Panthéon? Did the pendulum make you feel smarter or just slightly dizzy? Who would you nominate—and what French words did you learn there? Add a comment with your level (A1–C2), your takeaway, and one tip for first-timers. On y va, la communauté !

Location: France

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