Les Invalides

By on 20/08/2009 in Attractions, Paris
Hotel des Invalides front view

Hotel des Invalides front view

Today,Les Invalides is one of the main tourist attractions and at the same time the burial place for some people from Napoleon’s family and his military officers. Les Invalides, a complex of monumental structures relating to France’s military history, is located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris and the building’s constructural purpose was to be used as a retirement home and a hospital for veterans of war. The Musee de l’Armee which is the military museum of the Army of France, the Musee des Plans-Reliefs, the Musee d’Histoire Contemporaine are all housed by Hotel des Invalides including the burial site of Napoleon Bonaparte.

Short History

On 24 November 1670, the construction project was commenced by Louis XIV and it was to be used as a hospital and home for the old and sick soldiers. Liberal Bruant was chosen as the architect of Les Invalides. The project was enlarged and finished in 1676.

The measure of the river front was 643,04 feet and the complex contained 15 courtyards, the largest one was the cour d’honneur meaning “court of honour” which was to be in service for military parades.Then the veterans needed a chapel that was built by the assistance of Bruant Jules to Hardouin Mansart in 1679. Today that chapel is known as Eglise St Louis des Invalides. Shortly after that, Mansart constructed one more chapel named as the Eglise du Dome by Louis XIV’s order, that is one of the examples of French Baroque architecture. Eglise du Dome was inspired by Saint Peter’s Basilica located in Rome, which has been the original masterpiece of all of the domes in Baroque style. In 1705, Charles de La Fosse painted the dome’s interior part with a Baroque illusion of space.

Tombs

Napoleon’s Tomb Les Invalides Paris France

Napoleon’s Tomb Les Invalides Paris France

At Les Invalides the most oustanding tomb is Napoleon Bonaparte’s one. Les Invalides is one of the major tourist attractions and also the burial place for some people from Napoleon’s family and his military officers such as Comte Bertrand (1773–1844), Claude Joseph Rouget de Lisle (1760–1836), Ferdinand Foch (1851–1929), François Canrobert (1809–1895), Geraud Duroc (1774–1813), Henri Gratien, Henri de la Tour d’Auvergne (1611–1675), Jean de Lattre de Tassigny (1889–1952), Jerome Bonaparte (1784–1860), Joseph Bonaparte (1768–1844), Napoleon II (1811–1832), Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque (1902–1947), Pierre Auguste Roques (1856–1920), Sebastien Le Prestre de Vauban’s heart (1633–1707), Thomas Bugeaud (1784–1849).

Practical Information

  • Architectural style : Classical
  • Bus : 82, 92
  • Collections : 17th century
  • Days of the week : Open everyday including Saturday and Sunday.
  • District : Saint-Germain-des-Pres – Musee d’Orsay – Montparnasse
  • Location: Hotel National des Invalides; Esplanade des Invalides, 129 rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris France
  • Metro: Invalides Varenne La Tour, Maubourg
  • Official website: invalides.org
  • Opening Time: It opens at 10:00 am and closes at 6:00 pm in summer but in winter it opens at 10:00 am and closes at 5:00 pm.
  • Public Holidays: Open on the public holidays of 1 January, Easter, Easter Monday, 8 May, 1 May, Ascension Day, Whitsuntide, Whit Monday, 14 July, 15 August, 1 November, 11 November, and 25 December.
  • RER : Invalides
  • Tel: 01 44 42 38 77 or 08 10 11 33 99

Les Invalides is located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. So, you may want to see;

(Text Source: ‘paris4travel‘)

You may also wish to see ;

Les Invalides Map:

[mappress]