Panthéon Bouddhique, Asian art museum in Hôtel d'Heidelbach, Paris, France
The Panthéon Bouddhique is an art museum housed in a former private mansion at 19 Avenue d'Iéna and contains around 250 Japanese artworks and Chinese artifacts. The building displays religious and artistic objects within a historic setting that presents the collection pieces in their original context.
The building was constructed in 1913 by architect René Sergent for banker Alfred Heidelbach and reflects the architecture of that period. It became part of the Guimet Museum collection after its acquisition in 1955 and has served as a branch for Asian art.
The collection arranges objects following Buddhist temple structures, organizing them by saints, Shinto deities, wisdom kings, bodhisattvas, and buddhas. This layout helps visitors understand the spiritual meaning of each piece.
The museum is located in the 16th arrondissement and is easily accessible by public transportation. A Japanese tea pavilion inside the building allows visitors to experience traditional tea ceremonies upon advance reservation.
The collection stems from Émile Étienne Guimet's 1876 journey to Japan, where he gathered fascinating artworks and religious objects. These early acquisitions form the core of the museum today and show how Western collectors first discovered Asian art.
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