The Pantheon, Paris

Besides "Hunchback Notre Dame", Victor Hugo also wrote many other novels but none more well known than Les Miserables. Most admirers of this novel would admit they have either seen the movie or the musical rather than having read the actual novel itself.

Victor Hugo died in May 1885 and his remains is buried in the Pantheon, a mausoleum where distinguished French citizens are interred. His recognition as a giant in literature and a statesman could be seen from the outpouring of national grieve during his unprecedented funeral. Two million people lined the street from Arc de Triomphe to the Pantheon to join in the funeral procession.

Another surprise I discovered was the interment of Marie Curie in this mausoleum. She was born a Pole but later moved to France. For her research in Radioactivity, she was awarded the Nobel Price. She won the Nobel Price in Physics in 1903 and later the Nobel Price in Chemistry in 1911. Upon her death in 1934, she was buried along side her husband, Pierre Curie in a small place called Sceaux, about 10 Km south of Paris. Some 60 years later in 1995, both her remains as well as her husband's were transferred to the Pantheon. Marie Curie had many First's. The first woman to receive the Nobel Price, the first woman to receive Nobel Price twice and the first woman to be buried in the Pantheon.

Crypt where the deaths are interred.