Les Invalides Paris

Going to Les Invalides in Paris is like plunging into the French history. And it is not only where the past is to be found – but a place where history is apparently vibrant in the stones, the courtyards and the silence solemn of its halls. You will find that on the Left Bank of the Seine just above Pont Alexandre III. This monumental architectural compound at once draws the attention by its size and beauty, and narrates of glory, war, life in the army and national memory. In the centre is the Hotel des Invalides which was built by Louis XIV to house the wounded soldiers and war veterans.

As you go through the entrance you come to the Cour d’Honneur (Court of Honour) a grand square courtyard that is surrounded by fine arcades. There are a couple of cannons which are in perfect rows and it contributes to the military atmosphere. Thousands of official ceremonies have been held in this courtyard, but it still somehow has something cinematic solemnity.

The golden dome of the Les Invalides is one of the most popular and well-recognized elements of the facility, which is seen in much of the city. It is a beautiful glitter in the sunshine at any season of the year. Below it lies the Eglise du Dome, which is one of the French masterpieces of the Baroque architecture. It is very heavily adorned indoors, with coloured marble and sculptures – a grand bombardment of beauty.

In the middle, just beneath the dome, is the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte: an imposing red porphyry sarcophagus. The great military commander is laid at rest in a monumental circular cairn which can be observed at the top. Other burials are around his tomb, the brothers of Napoleon, his son Napoleon II, Marshal Foch and other central figures in the history of France.

Next to the Dome Church is another, not so famous yet also important: the Cathedral of Saint-Louis des Invalides, which serves the soldiers. It is a more personal environment. Military flags and banners cover the walls – the artifacts that narrate about sacrifices and victories, making the space a real memorial.

One of the largest and most complete military museums in the world: the Musee de l’Armee, can be found in Les Invalides. It is enormous, but you need not hurry, you can simply pursue your interest. The collections range back to the Middle Ages up to the Second World War.

The initial rooms are devoted to the times of the middle ages and the renaissance, and well-maintained suits of armour and helmets really attract the attention. It has a section dedicated to the Louis XIV period and the Ancien Regime, which provides an excellent overview of ceremonies, uniforms and military methods of the 17 th and 18 th century.

The Napoleon part is full of weapons, uniforms, papers and personal belongings of the emperor, which also allow you to learn more about the person and the man. Equally impressive are the rooms devoted to the two World Wars, full of eyewitness accounts, photographs, military typewriters, equipment and reproduced war scenes. This section of the museum truly makes one contemplate and admire.

The complex also has the less known and equally interesting Musee des Plans-Reliefs, where you will find large scale models of fortified cities as they were built in the 17 th to 19 th centuries. You look down on them as though you were looking at history in a miniature.

Out of doors, in the gardens of Les Invalides, there is a little magic. Their well-maintained flowerbeds and flawless window displays to the dome make them the best place to sit and spend a few minutes looking at people as they walk, window shop, or take photos.

Les Invalides is not merely a monument – it is a memorial tour of the French art and history. Each is a character in its own right and the entire experience is full of meaning and emotion. It is a place that establishes a conversation with the past with those who made the history of France and with those who devoted their lives to it.