Top 10 Facts about Les Invalides in Paris

By Juan Carlos Cordovez-Mantilla – Wikimedia

Top 10 Facts about Les Invalides in Paris

Several iconic and historic landmarks define the skyline of the city of lights. There are several museums, monuments and historic buildings.

One of the buildings is Les Invalides that add to the variety of architecture in the streets of Paris. This building is found on the 7th arrondissement of Paris.

The building was formerly known as the National Residence of the Invalids.

Together with most of the buildings along the 7^th arrondissement avenue, they all relate to the military history of France.

This particular building was used as a hospital and a retirement home for war veterans.

It currently houses several museums like the Musee de l’Armee of France, the Musée des Plans-Reliefs, and the Musée d’Histoire Contemporaine.

You will also find the Dome des Invalides, a massive church and the tallest in Paris. The Dome is the resting place for several notables including Napoleon.

There is more to know about Les Invalides in Paris, for that reason I have put together the top 10 facts about it.

1. It is Napoleon I final resting place

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Notable French war heroes have their remains interred here. One of them is Napoleon I whose ashes are in a red quartzite sarcophagus.

His coffin is in an open circular crypt in the centre of Saint Louis under the Dome.

Napoleon’s initial resting place was at Saint Helena but King Louis Philippe had his remains sent back to France in 1840.

Napoleon’s tomb took about 20 years to be completed, as this was being done his remains were kept in Chapelle Saint-Jerome in the Invalides.

His tomb was completed in 1861. Other members from his family are also interred here like Napoleon Bonaparte.

Other prominent people and military officers have their hearts buried here while their bodies are buried elsewhere.

2. The building was commissioned by Louis XIV

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King Louis XIV is also known as the Sun King. He commissioned the construction of the hospital in 1670. The hospital was built for injured soldiers.

He appointed Liberal Bruant as the architect who designed the hospital. It took more than 4,000 patients and had fifteen courtyards.

The location of the hospital was in the suburbs of the city which is currently the 7^th arrondissement.

There was a private royal chapel within the confines of the hospital but the patients weren’t allowed to use it. A separate chapel was built for the patients.

3. King Louis XIV also commissioned two chapels

King Louis XIV did not share his royal chapel with the patients or the soldiers as was prescribed by court etiquette.

Instead, he commissioned Jules Hardouin-Mansart, an architect to design a new chapel.

Jules built a huge chapel that was divided into two; the royal chapel and the veteran’s chapel.

This way the King and the soldiers would attend mass at the same time albeit through separate entrances.

The veteran’s chapel is still used as a church today, it is known as Cathedral of Saint-Louis des Invalides.

A reinforcement of the wall separating the two chapels was built in the 19^th century when Napoleon’s I tomb was being built.

4. The Dome is a successful depiction of French Baroque Architecture

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The Dome at Les Invalides was inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. The Basilica was the original Baroque dome.

The Dome at Les Invalides is a true representation of French Baroque architecture. It was designed by Hardouin-Mansart.

He placed the dome at the centre to dominate the court of honour. It stands at 107 metres above the rest of the buildings.

The interior was painted by Le Brun’s disciple Charles de La Fosse. La Fosse used a Baroque illusion of space, he completed the fresco in 1705.

The Dôme of the royal chapel is the highest in all of Paris.

5. The building is now a museum

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The main building of Invalides is now home to several museums. They are the military museum, the Museum of Contemporary History and the Museum of Military Models.

These museums have the best exhibits detailing the history of the French military. This section of the Les Invalides is never crowded because it is less known.

The building was used as the resting place for injured and retired veterans until the 20^th century.

These museums are some of the best in the world with extraordinary armours and weapons. There is a special section set aside for the two World Wars.

The museums hold more than 500,000 objects.

6. The tomb of Napoleon pays tribute to military conquests

The Dome was chosen to become Napoleon’s burial place as stipulated by the law dated 10 June 1840.

His tomb has a heavily modified interior that took two decades to finish. This tomb pays homage to military conquests in the form of bas-reliefs and Victory statues.

Napoleon’s beautifully decorated tomb is found at the centre below the Dome.

Other tombs found in the dome include; Aiglon the King of Rome, Joseph and Jérôme Bonaparte, and Generals Bertrand and Duroc.

7. Les Invalides is closer to other main attractions in Paris

Les Invalides is located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. This is one of the poshest districts in the centre of Paris.

The street is on the left bank of the River Seine and is home to several important monuments and museums. It is where the Eiffel tower is and Champ de Mars.

The other notable landmarks are the Musée d’Orsay which is dedicated to impressionists, the Musée Rodin, dedicated to sculptures of Auguste Rodin, and the Musée du Quai Branly that features indigenous art from all over the world.

8. Les Invalides is massive

By Juan Carlos Cordovez-Mantilla – Wikimedia

King Louis XIV did not let anything stop the construction of the Les Invalides, this includes space. This gave the architect the freedom to be creative with his design.

The location of this building back then was outside the city centre and was known as the plain of Grenelle.

The construction of the entire compound was finished in 1676. It faces the sloping boardwalk by the river.

Les Invalides is 1,470 feet long, 810 feet wide, this end reaches Quai d’Orsay and the Alexandre III Bridge.

There are 15 courtyards with the vastest being Le Cour d’Honner that was used for military parades.

9. Les Invalides has two entrances

Les Invalides has two entrances, one is found Esplanade des Invalides, 129 rue de Grenelle while the other one is on Place Vauban.

The Place Vauban entrance is more friendly to visitors with disabilities.

10. The building was once invaded by rioters

Other than hosting Napoleon’s tomb, Les Invalides played a vital role in the French Revolution.

In 1789, rioters broke in and stole the cannons and muskets stored in the cellars.

They used them against Bastille which is one of the most significant moments in the revolution.