The Panthéon: France's Temple of National Heroes

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Panthéon in Paris — a neoclassical mausoleum that holds the remains of France's most revered citizens. From its origins as a church built by Louis XV to its revolutionary repurposing in 1791, the building's history mirrors France's political upheavals. Learn about the murals of Sainte Geneviève, the pendulum of Léon Foucault, and the controversies over who gets interred: Voltaire and Rousseau lie there, but not Molière or Descartes. The episode dives into the Panthéon's 'great men' motto, the women excluded from its crypt (only five women lie there), and how the building has been a church, a temple, and a symbol of national identity. A fascinating look at how a country decides whom to honor. #Panthéon #Paris #FrenchHistory #Voltaire #Rousseau #SainteGeneviève #LéonFoucault #LouisXV #Soufflot #Mirabeau #FrenchRevolution #NeoclassicalArchitecture #NationalIdentity #Secularism #Laïcité #History #FexingoHistory #EuropeanHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo