On 24 May 1670, Louis XIV decided to build the National Invalides Hotel to house his wounded soldiers. The “Sun king” entrusted the construction to the architect Libéral Bruant.
During the French Revolution, the National Invalides Hotel fell victim to numerous acts of vandalism and was threatened with closure. France went through a long ten-year period of political and social instability and military conflict. Napoleon, respectful of the equality of citizens, decided to postpone the anniversary of the storming of the Bastille. He organized a celebration on 15 July 1804 to honor his soldiers with the first decoration of the Legion of Honour.
In 1840, King Louis-Philippe decided to repatriate the remains of Napoleon, who had died in exile on the island of Saint Helena. After careful consideration, the national Invalides Hotel was chosen to house the Emperor’s body, for symbolic reasons of military history.
Invalides Hotel is one of the most prestigious monuments in Paris, with its famous gilded dome designed by Mansard. The courtyard of honor houses an admirable artillery display of 60 cannons retracing 200 years of history. He houses an extraordinary collection of must-see sculptures and statues arranged around the building, as well as several museums.
The Museum of Chart Plans gives an idea of the military frontiers of each region with its 28 relief maps of the Channel’s fortifications. Armies Museum offers one of the most exceptional French and world military history collections. The Museum of the Order of Liberation, founded by General de Gaulle, retraces the lives of Free French servicemen, resistance fighters, and deportees during the Second World War.
Invalides is also home to two churches: Saint-Louis des Invalides, which bears witness to the faith of Louis XIV. The Church of the Dome houses the imposing tomb of Napoleon, Emperor of the French.