Les Invalides facts for kids

This page is about the area in Paris. For the Paris metro station serving it, see Invalides (Paris Métro and RER).

Quick facts for kids Hôtel des Invalides
View of Les Invalides from the Eiffel Tower
Alternative names	Les Invalides, Musée de l'Armée
General information
Type	Museum, church, hospital, retirement home, mausoleum
Architectural style	Baroque
Location	Paris, France
Coordinates	48°51′18″N 2°18′45″E / 48.85500°N 2.31250°E / 48.85500; 2.31250
Construction started	1671
Completed	1706
Inaugurated	1678
Design and construction
Architect	Libéral Bruant Jules Hardouin-Mansart

The Hôtel des Invalides, often called Les Invalides, is a famous group of buildings in Paris, France. It's a special place with museums and monuments that tell the story of France's military history. It also has a hospital and a home for war veterans, which was its first purpose. Inside, you'll find the Musée de l'Armée (Army Museum) and the Musée des Plans-Reliefs (Museum of Relief Maps). There's also the Cathedral of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, which is the national church for the French military. Next to it is the beautiful Royal Chapel, known as the Dôme des Invalides, which is the tallest church building in Paris, standing at 107 metres (351 ft) high. This chapel is now a special resting place for important French military leaders, including Napoleon himself.

A Home for Heroes: The History of Les Invalides
- Les Invalides at the Paris 2024 Olympics
Exploring the Architecture of Les Invalides
Museums at Les Invalides
- The French Army Museum: A Journey Through Military History
- The Museum of Relief Maps: Miniature Fortresses
Plan of Les Invalides
Images for kids
Burials of Famous Figures
- Burials in the Governors' Vault
See also

A Home for Heroes: The History of Les Invalides

An early plan for Les Invalides from around 1700.

King Louis XIV started the project for Les Invalides in 1670. He wanted to create a special home and hospital for soldiers who were old or had been injured in his many wars. These soldiers were called "invalides" in French.

The first architect was Libéral Bruant. The building was constructed on a large open field outside Paris. By 1676, the main building facing the Seine River was 196 metres (643 ft) wide. The complex had fifteen courtyards, with the largest one, the cour d'honneur, used for military parades.

The church and chapel parts of Les Invalides were designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart in 1676. He was inspired by other grand French buildings. The beautiful Dôme des Invalides was meant to be a private chapel for the king. It was connected to the church where the veterans worshipped. This dome is a great example of French Baroque architecture and stands 107 metres (351 ft) tall. It became a symbol of France's powerful monarchy.

The inside of the dome has a stunning illusionistic ceiling painting by Charles de La Fosse, a student of a famous artist named Charles Le Brun. This painting was finished in 1705.

Hardouin-Mansart also helped finish the Cathedral of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, Paris after Bruant passed away in 1697. The soldiers living there had to attend church services every day. The Dome chapel, a separate royal chapel, was completed in 1706.

King Louis XIV looking at the plans for Les Invalides.
King Louis XIV visiting Les Invalides around 1706.
A portrait of Hardouin-Mansart, the architect, showing the Dome.
Napoleon I visiting the hospital at Les Invalides.

Les Invalides has seen many important moments in French history. On July 14, 1789, during the French Revolution, people stormed the building. They took cannons and muskets from its cellars to use against the Bastille prison later that day.

In 1840, Napoleon's body was brought back to France and buried with a grand ceremony under the Dome. A glass wall was built to separate the two churches, and Napoleon's tomb became a central feature.

Les Invalides continued to be a home and hospital for military veterans until the early 1900s. In 1905, the Artillery Museum and the Historical Museum of the Armies joined together to form the Musée de l'Armée that we see today. Many veterans moved to smaller homes outside Paris because the building was too large for the fewer veterans who qualified. However, Les Invalides still cares for about a hundred elderly or injured former soldiers.

Today, the veterans' chapel is known as the Cathédrale Saint-Louis-des-Invalides. It serves as the main church for the Diocese of the French Armed Forces.

Les Invalides at the Paris 2024 Olympics

Men's Individual Archery at the Les Invalides venue during the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The large green area in front of Les Invalides, called the Esplanade des Invalides, was a major location for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics. It hosted exciting events like archery, para-archery, road cycling, and marathon races. The historic buildings of Les Invalides provided a stunning background for these competitions.

Exploring the Architecture of Les Invalides

The North Front and Grand Entrance

The impressive north front of Les Invalides, with the Dome rising behind the central block.

A statue of the Goddess Minerva guards the entrance.
The north portal shows King Louis XIV on horseback.
A statue of Mars, the Roman god of war, stands by the north portal.

The Dome chapel, designed by Hardouin-Mansart, stands tall and grand, yet it fits perfectly with Bruant's main entrance on the north side of Les Invalides. To the north, a wide public area called the Esplanade des Invalides stretches out. This area is home to embassies and government offices, creating a beautiful open space in the heart of Paris. At its far end, the Pont Alexandre III bridge connects this grand axis to other famous buildings like the Petit Palais and the Grand Palais.

The Magnificent Dome des Invalides

The Dôme des Invalides, standing 107 metres (351 ft) tall.
A close-up of the dome, decorated with 12.65 kilograms (27.9 lb) of gold leaf.
The stunning interior of the Dome.

The interior of the dome features murals by Charles de la Fosse.
The grand bronze and gilded doors leading to the dome.
A beautiful mural by Charles de la Fosse.

The Dome is the tallest and most famous part of Les Invalides. Designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, it has a unique shape like a Greek cross on a square base. It is crowned by a dome that reaches 107 metres (351 ft) high, making it taller than Notre Dame de Paris and the tallest church dome in Paris.

Interestingly, the dome is actually made of two domes, one on top of the other. The lower dome has an opening at its base, allowing visitors to see the artwork painted on the upper dome by Charles de La Fosse. Hidden windows between the two domes let in natural light, making it seem as if you're looking up at the sky.

The inside of the dome is divided into two separate church areas. The chapel directly under the dome was sometimes used by the royal family. Connected to it is the Cathedral of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, Paris, where the veterans of Les Invalides attended daily services.

The painting inside the dome by Charles de la Fosse shows Saint Louis offering his sword to Christ and angels. In the center, God and the Virgin are surrounded by musical angels. Saint Louis wears royal symbols like a crown and a royal cloak.

Charles de la Fosse (1636-1716) was a talented painter who also worked at the Palace of Versailles. He decorated the dome and its supporting arches with paintings of the four Evangelists.

Napoleon's Final Resting Place

The Tomb of Napoleon, located beneath the dome.
The impressive sarcophagus of Napoleon.
The altar above Napoleon's tomb.

The Tomb of Napoleon is located inside the Church of the Dome. It was built after his remains were brought back to France from Saint Helena in 1840. King Louis Philippe I and his Prime Minister, Adolphe Thiers, started the project, but it was finished and opened in 1861. The main architect was Louis Visconti.

Napoleon's sarcophagus is made of purple quartzite and rests on a green granite base. It is placed in an open crypt, surrounded by a circular gallery with twelve pillars. These pillars feature sculptures celebrating Napoleon's achievements.

The Cathedral of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides

The window behind the altar looks into the dome chapel.
The nave displays enemy flags captured by the French Army.
The organ, with its case designed by Hardouin-Mansart.

This church is located right behind the Dome des Invalides. It was originally where the army veterans living at Les Invalides attended church services every day. In the past, the dome area was for the royal family, and this cathedral was the main part for the veterans.

A unique feature of the church is the display of captured enemy flags. These are war trophies taken by the French Army over many years.

The cathedral also has a beautiful organ, built between 1679 and 1687. Its detailed case with sculptures was designed by the architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart.

The Courtyard of Honour

The Courtyard of Honour, with the Dome in the background. The Army Museum is on the left.
President Macron welcoming President Trump to Les Invalides in 2017.
An entrance to the Army Museum from the Courtyard of Honour.
A statue of Napoleon overlooking the courtyard.
Historic cannons on display in the courtyard.

The Courtyard of Honour is a large, open space at the heart of Les Invalides. It's surrounded by the main buildings and offers a grand view of the Dome. You can often see historic cannons displayed here, reminding visitors of France's military past.

Museums at Les Invalides

The French Army Museum: A Journey Through Military History

Cavalry armor from the 15th or 16th century.
Displays inside the Army Museum.
An Aubusson bombardment mortar, one of the largest in the world.

The Army Museum (Musée de l'Armée) was created in 1905. It brought together collections from the Artillery Museum and the Historical Museum of the Armies. The museum has seven main areas filled with military equipment and artifacts. These displays cover a vast period, from ancient times through the 20th century, showing how warfare and soldiers' gear changed over hundreds of years.

The Museum of Relief Maps: Miniature Fortresses

A relief plan of the Chateau of Oleron.
A detailed relief map of the Chateau d'If.

The Musée des Plans-Reliefs displays a unique collection of military models. In 1668, the Minister of War for King Louis XIV ordered these three-dimensional models to be made. They showed fortified cities and important strategic locations in France. The models were originally kept in the Louvre Museum. Over the years, the collection grew, and some models of German fortifications were added.

The museum has about 150 models created between 1668 and 1870. Today, you can see about twenty-eight of these models, which show fortified cities along the French coast. They are like giant, detailed maps that show every hill, building, and defense.

Plan of Les Invalides


Dome of Les Invalides Cathedral of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, Paris Musée de l'Armée Musée des Plans-Reliefs Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération	Institution nationale des Invalides Gouverneur des Invalides Gouverneur militaire de Paris Chancellerie de l'Ordre de la Libération Office national des anciens combattants et victimes de guerre
1. Cour d'honneur 2. Cour d'Angoulème 3. Cour d'Austerlitz 4. Cour de la Victoire 5. Cour de la Valeur 6. Cour de Mars 7. Cour de Toulon 8. Cour de Nismes 9. Cour de Metz	10. Cour de l'Infirmerie 11. Cour d'Oran 12. Cour de la Paix 13. Cour d'Arles 14. Cour d'Alger 15. Cour Saint-Louis 16. Cour Saint-Joseph 17. Cour Saint-Jacques

Les Invalides still serves as the National Institution for Invalides (Institution Nationale des Invalides). This institution provides care for disabled war veterans. It includes:

a retirement home for veterans
a medical and surgical center
a center for outpatient medical care.

Images for kids

An aerial view of Les Invalides.
A statue and attic window in the Courtyard of Honour.
"Long Live the Emperor" in the courtyard.
The Alexander III bridge aligns perfectly with Les Invalides.
A view of the complex and Paris from the top of the Dome.
The top of the gate overlooking the northern esplanade.
Les Invalides as seen from the Montparnasse tower.
The Dome has a unique triple hull structure.
The monumental bronze door of the Dome.
An old plan of the Dome.
The pinnacle at the very top of the Dome.
The beautiful interior architecture of the Dome.
The floors are decorated with colorful 17th-century marble patterns.
Napoleon's tomb is located in the center of the Dome.
The painted cupola of the Dome.
One of the four smaller side cupolas.
According to tradition, war trophies decorate the vault of the Cathédrale Saint-Louis-des-Invalides.
The Qianlong Emperor's military costume at the Musée de l'Armée.

Burials of Famous Figures

The sarcophagus of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The tomb of Napoleon II at Les Invalides.

The Dome chapel became a special burial place for military heroes. In 1800, Napoleon moved the tomb of the famous general Turenne here. Later, the heart of Vauban, a brilliant military engineer, was also brought to Les Invalides.

The most significant burial is that of Napoleon Bonaparte (1769–1821). His remains were brought back to France from Saint Helena in 1840, an event known as le retour des cendres (the return of the ashes). His final resting place, a grand tomb made of red quartzite on a green granite base, was completed in 1861.

Many other important military figures and members of Napoleon's family are also buried here:

Henri de La Tour d'Auvergne, Viscount of Turenne (1611–1675)
Heart of Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban (1633–1707)
Henri Gatien Bertrand (1773–1844), a general who accompanied Napoleon.
Géraud Duroc (1772–1813), another of Napoleon's generals.
Jérôme Bonaparte (1784–1860), Napoleon's youngest brother.
Joseph Bonaparte (1768–1844), Napoleon's elder brother.
Charles Leclerc (1772–1802), a general.
Heart of Théophile Corret de la Tour d'Auvergne (1743–1800), known as the "first grenadier of the Republic."
Napoleon II (1811–1832), Napoleon's son.
Ferdinand Foch (1851–1929), a Marshal of France from World War I.
Hubert Lyautey (1854–1934), a French marshal.

Two of the twelve marble Victories surrounding Napoleon's tomb.
The tomb of Joseph Bonaparte in the Dome church.
The tomb of Ferdinand Foch in the Dome church.
The cenotaph of Vauban in the Dome church.
The tomb of Marshal Lyautey.
The tomb of Jerome Bonaparte.

Burials in the Governors' Vault

Beneath the Cathédrale Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, there is an underground gallery called the Caveau des Gouverneurs (Governors' Vault). Here, 82 more military figures are buried, including 28 Governors of Les Invalides.

Two of these, Gabriel Malleterre and Philippe Leclerc de Hauteclocque, are also honored with special plaques inside the Saint-Louis-des-Invalides cathedral. Another plaque honors Jean de Lattre de Tassigny (1889–1952), a Marshal of France from World War II, who is buried elsewhere.

Burial vaults in the Caveau des Gouverneurs beneath Cathédrale Saint-Louis-des-Invalides.
A plaque honoring Marshal de Lattre de Tassigny.
A plaque honoring Marshal Leclerc.