Constructed in the 17^th century to lodge injured soldiers of Louis XIV's armies, the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris is currently home to one of the largest art and military museums in the world. The Church of the Invalides, visible from afar in all of Paris thanks to its gilded dome with gold leaves, shelters Napoleon's tomb.

Recognisable by its superb gilded domes, the Invalides rises up in the capital's 7^th arrondissement, at the end of the vast avenue of the same name, very popular with the Parisians when the weather is nice. It is in a magnificent location, facing the River Seine and in front of the Alexandre III Bridge and the Grand Palais! It was Louis XIV who decided to build the Hôtel in 1670, with the idea of creating a hospice for wounded soldiers and their armies. At the end of the 17^th century, it was home to more than 3,000 boarders.

Today, although it stills holds a hospital, the Hôtel des Invalides is more known for being home to the tomb of the emperor and for its Army Museum which holds a rich collection of historical items.

The Army Museum

The Army Museum offers a complete insight into France's military history. The diversity of its items and the extent of the history covered make it an exceptional museum.

Inside visitors will notably discover a rich collection of weapons and ancient armoury covering the periods from the 13th to the 17th centuries, small models of the artillery, and even an exceptional ensemble of pieces relative to Napoleon I and the Marshal's of the Empire.

The Charles de Gaulle Historial: a multimedia museum!

In addition, the Charles de Gaulle Historial was opened in 2008 and retraces the history of the important figure of the French State with the help of interactive displays and sound, visual and audiovisual archives. The highlight: a large multi-screen auditorium which presents a fascinating biography of Charles de Gaulle.

The tomb of the Emperor

Beyond the quality of its museum, the Hôtel des Invalides is known for being the home of the tomb of Napoleon I. It has been resting at the heart of the church since 1861.

Cut into blocks of red quartzite, placed on a pedestal made of green granite from the Vosges Mountains, it is surrounded on the ground by a crown of laurel leaves, a symbol of victory. The choir of the Cathedral of St. Louis des Invalides is the only one of all of the churches and cathedrals which is continually adorned with the French flag. In line with an old tradition, the flags and banners of the enemies captured under the Empire can be seen under the vault.

Do not miss:

- the dome covered in leaves of gold;

- the Army Museum;

- the Dome Church notably sheltering Napoleon's tomb

- the Esplanade des Invalides

The Invalides church and its gilded dome!

The general layout of the building by Jules Hardouin-Mansart is simple: a Greek cross following a square layout. The entire base of the building perfectly incarnates the French classic style, the one from the great period of Versailles. In terms of the dome, however, decorated with high windows, the great “classic” strictness of the architecture is noticeable: geminated columns, high windows with curved lintels, small vaults arranged over this crown of columns, a cupola surrounded by fire pots and covered with rich gilded patterns of trophies, and all of it topped with a square and gilded lantern which even the most baroque of the great Italian architects of the time would not have renounced!