Tourists from all over the world visiting France are especially fond of Paris. The Pantheon, a historical monument located in this city, is not only rich in history, but also in the beauty of its architectural forms. The construction is essentially a tomb in which the remains of the most famous historical figures of the country rest. The Pantheon was built during the French Revolution. At one time, the building of the mausoleum was the Cathedral of St. Genevieve.
Currently, this memorial complex is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Paris. Travelers are attracted not only by the history of buried noble citizens, but also by the majestic architecture of the building. In the external appearance, one can note the eclecticism of several styles, it is impossible to unambiguously attribute the building to a certain architectural direction. At a time when the Cathedral was operating in the Pantheon, historical sources report a sharp rejection by the townspeople of the appearance of the building. However, Parisians are famous for their ambiguous attitude to innovations in architectural forms. It is enough to recall the history of the Eiffel Tower.
The Pantheon (Paris) looks majestic. Photos of it are used for many posters and cards. It is located in the fifth district, close to the city center. At the entrance to the complex of tourists there is an inscription saying "From a grateful Motherland to worthy people." There are always numerous tourists from all over the world. The Pantheon acquires a particularly interesting appearance with the onset of sunset, at which time special illumination is turned on.
Church of St. Genevieve
Everyone is interested in the question: "In what year was the pantheon founded in Paris?" Its history goes back to the 18th century, when the king of France Louis XV, before decisive battles, suddenly fell ill and was about to give up his spirit, but after the prayers of St. Genevieve suddenly began to feel much better and was soon healed. The king vowed that if Genevieve returned his health, then he undertook to build a large church in the name of the saint. True, after the king regained his health, he forgot about the promise made to heaven and remembered him only after a long time.
In the 12th year after the king was cured, the construction of the temple began under the guidance of the then-famous architect Sufflo. Thus, another attraction was gained by Paris. The Pantheon is a wonderful building that delights every tourist.
Cathedral building
The project, authored by a famous architect, led the monarch and the inhabitants of the city at a loss. For that era, the architectural direction of the Baroque was characteristic, characterized by a wealth of jewelry and luxury forms. The architect Sufflo used his own approach - the original eclecticism of four different directions: Greek, Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque.
The Catholic Church strongly opposed the proposed project due to the fact that the shape of the temple partly resembled a Byzantine cross. Sufflo had to make changes to the appearance of the structure. So the Pantheon took shape in Paris. The description of the structure indicates that this is not just a temple, but a tomb for the great people of France.
In the future, as the building was under construction, the architect constantly had to face numerous difficulties and lack of funding. Monetary difficulties of the king led to the fact that it was necessary to reduce the cost of the project, abandoning some of the architectural elements. As a result, the construction was delayed, and neither the king nor the famous architect survived until its completion. It was necessary to complete the construction of his assistants.
Further History of the Pantheon
The building did not last long for the cathedral. With the outbreak of the French Revolution, many churches of the country suffered a mournful fate: they were ruined and closed. The Church of St. Genevieve miraculously escaped such a fate. For this, the building from the church was transformed into the Pantheon - the tomb of the country's heroes. Throughout further history, the building several times passed from revolutionaries to the royal court and vice versa and changed its name. Ultimately, the building was assigned the name Pantheon.
Current state
Currently, many tourists are attracted to Paris. The Pantheon is a memorial complex, a tomb, in which the remains of famous French and honorable friends of the country are stored. So, for example, the famous Italian painter Rafael is calm here. Many famous personalities are still waiting in the wings to be reburied in such a famous place, for example:
- Napoleon Bonaparte;
- Count Mirabeau;
- Voltaire;
- Russo.
If you visit Paris, the Pantheon is worthy of being the first place you go.