Entering France’s Pantheon : a highly political decision
By France24
04 December 2021 |
3:56 pm
This week, we take you behind the scenes of one of Paris’ most beautiful landmarks: the Pantheon. A symbol of France’s values and collective memory, the mausoleum houses the remains of some of the country’s most esteemed men and women. On November 30, the Franco-American performer Josephine Baker will be reinterred there. But this selection requires more than just excellence. The choice is at the discretion of the President, and the reasons behind it are very political. FRANCE 24 explains.
In this article
Related
Related
27 Aug
France issued red alert warnings for four administrative regions in the south, where temperatures are expected to shoot above 40 degrees Celsius in the coming days.
2 Sep
The confession of a resistance fighter who witnessed a mass execution of German soldiers during World War II has reawakened dark memories in rural France.
2 Sep
After just one month in office, French Education Minister Gabriel Attal decided to ban Muslim abayas in public schools. How do other European countries compare?
10 Sep
As a former colony of France in Africa, Gabon does not only have state structures based on the French model but the two economies are closely interwoven too.
8 Sep
The French front pages are gripped by rugby fever as the World Cup kicks off this Friday on home soil. Will France convince as host nation, less than a year before the Olympics? Also: another South Korean elementary school teacher commits suicide as teachers protest nationwide against bullying and pressure from parents.
8 Sep
The 10th edition of the Rugby World Cup opens this Friday, September 8 with a blockbuster match. Hosts France will face New Zealand in one of the most powerful match-ups in the sport's history. This year, organisers are also expecting record attendance for the tournament, highlighting how professionalisation has transformed the sport in recent years.
13 Sep
The Camargue is a breed of domestic cattle native to the Camargue marshlands of the river delta of the Rhône in southern France. It is used for the traditional sport of course camarguaise, a kind of bloodless bull-fight, but not for the corrida, Iberian-style bull-fighting.
14 Sep
Raised for traditional bullfights or to export to Spain, they are a big part of the daily life of the Camargue. Unlike Spanish bullfights, where spectators watch the fight between a bull and its matador, the bullfights of the Camargue – Course Camarguaise – are all about agility.
23 Sep
Niger's coup leaders have tried to expel France's ambassador, but Paris says it doesn't recognize their authority to order him out. Macron said on TV he was "literally" a "hostage," stuck in the French Embassy in Niamey.
24 Sep
King Charles III's first state visit to France this week will include echoes of his mother's many trips across the English Channel. Like Queen Elizabeth II did in her day, he will process through the streets of Paris, plant a tree at the British ambassador's residence and dine at the Palace of Versailles.
24 Sep
Its grapes are twice fermented, which is the same as the process used to make prosecco. However, prosecco is fermented in stainless steel vats and champagne is twice fermented in glass bottles. The result is two very different sparkling wines. Champagne retains a dryness and develops a very complex flavour profile.
3 days ago
Deep in France's southern Lubéron mountains lies a stunning red and orange landscape reminiscent of the vast plains of America: the Colorado provençal. This spot of wild nature is in fact a former open-cast ochre quarry. Every year, some 300,000 visitors venture through these 30 unusual hectares, between fairy chimneys and strange sculptures, to discover the remains of the site's industrial past.
Latest
3 hours ago
The French diplomat left the capital Niamey for Chad early Wednesday, Paris said. The military junta had ordered his expulsion some weeks ago.
3 hours ago
Republicans in the US House of Representatives have launched a formal impeachment hearing against President Joe Biden. Day one of the hearing served as a review of evidence that Republicans have gathered so far.
4 hours ago
Striking writers will go back to work if the deal is approved by union members. Actors are still on strike over compensation, residual payments and AI protection, among other issues.
4 hours ago
China's Evergrande has announced that its founder is being investigated for "illegal crimes". It's the latest twist for world's most indebted property developer. We take a look at the rise and fall of Hui Ka Yan, who was once China's richest person. Next, we head to India to explore the impact of underground fires at coal mines in the east of the country. We see how fires have been burning for over a century, posing a threat to locals and the environment.
4 hours ago
The Indian community in Canada is more divided after Ottawa said Indian agents were behind the murder of a Sikh activist three months ago. DW spoke to Sikh community members in Toronto.