Memorial of René Descartes

The philosopher René Descartes, a Catholic living in a mostly Lutheran country, had difficulty finding a place to be buried when he died in Sweden.Initially, his remains were buried in St. Olof's Chapel, a small wooden church far from the city center. After 16 years, French government officials recovered Descartes' remains and brought them to France. There, his remains received a proper blessing and a Catholic burial in the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés.In 1774, Adolf Fredriks' church was finally completed, replacing St. Olof's chapel. Prince Gustav III, still a prince at the time, decided to honor the philosopher and his burial place in Sweden. Inside the church, a large lead memorial was erected on a pillar. It depicts the philosopher's face, along with a globe that is symbolically having its veil removed by an angel.The church is accessible during the day and photography is permitted.