Designed to accommodate French war veterans, the Hotel des Invalides (Hotel for the Disabled) was founded by Louis XIV in 1671. Up until that time, housing for disabled soldiers was non-existent in France. The construction project was entrusted to architect Liberal Bruant, who completed the building in 1674, with living quarters for up to 4,000.

Les Invalides comprises the largest single collection of monuments in Paris. Its two most notable attractions are the L’Eglise du Dome (Dome Church) and Napoleon’s Tomb, which is actually situated inside the Dome. The gilded Dome was completed in 1706 under the direction of Jules Hardouin-Mansart. Its openwork skylight reaches 107meters above ground and aside from housing Napoleon’s Tomb, this military necropolis also houses the tombs of Turenne, Vauban, Foch, Lyautey, Joseph and Jerome Bonaparte.

The most significant event in the history of Les Invalides is undoubtedly the return of Napoleon’s body from Britain’s St. Helens in 1840 – two decades after his death. Incidentally, his national funeral also took place that same year on December 15th, whereby his remains were transported from the Arc de Triomphe down the Champs-Elysées, across the Place de la Concorde to the Esplanade, and on to St Jerome's Chapel. Napoleon’s body would wait in the Chapel’s cupola until renowned sculptor Visconti completed the tomb 21 years later. Today, a wreath of laurel and inscriptions recalling the major victories of the Empire surround the red porphyry tomb. In the circular gallery of the crypt, a series of bas-reliefs sculpted by Simart represent the principal actions of his reign.

Many other intriguing amenities exist at the West entrance of Les Invalide. The 1914-‘18 Gallery offers  insight into the history of the Great War, featuring a wide variety of artifacts including uniforms, weapons, maps, paintings and more. The Francois ler room retraces the history of defensive and offensive armor prior to the mid-16th century. The Henry IV room presents a remarkable series of Germanic and Italian armor designed for jousting and tournaments. The Pauilhac room contains rare military pieces from a private collection acquired in 1964. The Louis XIII room houses remarkable pieces from former royal collections, particularly firearms that once belonged to the king. Le galerie de l’Arsenal recaptures the atmosphere of arsenals of the past. And the East room contains the war attire of an 18th century Chinese emperor, as well as a collection of 17th century Japanese armor. Also part of the hotel is the Artillery Department, which is divided into two sections: life-size artillery (in the Main Courtyard and the galleries on the 1st floor), and the collection of “scale model-artillery” in the Gribeauval room.

At the East entrance, inside the Emblem Department, is the Turenne room, which presents an exceptional collection of pennants, standards and flags from Louis XIVth’s reign up to the 20th century, including the Napoleonic period. The Vauban room presents a panorama of the French mounted troops from 1803 to 1939 and a retrospective exhibit of their weaponry. The rooms devoted to the Ancient Monarchy retrace the evolution of France’s armies beginning with the Thirty Years’ War up to the end of Louis XVIth’s reign. The Revolution and Empire rooms evoke the years 1789 to 1815 in approximately 20 different rooms. The Bugeaud Room describes the action of the metropolitan army and the African Army under the July monarchy. The Chanzy and Pelissier Rooms document the episodes of the Crimean War. ---Words and photos by Michael Rando

Access:
Metro station: Invalides, Latour-Maubourg, Varenne, Saint-Francois-Xavier

RER: Invalides

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