Foundation Ceremony of Sainte-Geneviève Church
2022 © Maxim Tabachnik
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Foundation Ceremony of Sainte-Geneviève Church

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On September 6, 1764, King Louis XV attended the laying of the first stone for the Église Sainte-Geneviève in Paris, later known as the Panthéon. A large painted canvas was displayed outdoors for the crowd to envision the future monument. The ceremony highlighted the church’s role as a symbol of national pride and architectural ambition during the Enlightenment.