| Invalides tips and photos posted by real travelers and Paris locals. • 502 Photos
• 255 Reviews
See all Paris Things To Do |
 | Paris Invalides Reviews | 1 - 10 of 255 |  |
The best department of this museum, i.e. the Département Moderne (1648 - 1871) with the splendid collections from King Louis XIV to Napoleon III is (was) closed for renovation.
THIS DEPARTMENT REOPENED IN SUMMER 2009.
Fortunately for the visitor, the WW I and WW II department has been renovated and extended what is a good thing because this part of the Invalides Army Museum was somewhat short in the previous years.
This department deals with the military history from 1871 to 1945 on an expanded surface of 3500 m2 since July 2006.
I was pleased to see that this period of history in which France had a central position is now up to other museums WW departments like the ones of Brussels, London or Vienna for example.
Are exposed French and foreign uniforms, certain having belonged to major figures - Foch, Joffre, de Lattre, Leclerc - diverse armaments and objects of the everyday equipment of the soldier.
I found very interesting the windows showing proposals around 1900 for less visible uniforms as those inherited from Napoleon III. (see cavalry helms around 1900 on photo 1). But they were finally refused so that the French soldiers went into the WW I with "garance" red coloured trousers (photo 2) what made of them quite visible targets for the German riflemen.
I was much impressed by a model of the famous German heavy howitzer called "Grosse Bertha". My grand parents told me about that howitzer used in Belgium against the forts of Liège and Namur in 1914. It would fire 800 kg shells at 9 Km distance (photo 3).
Is also shown one of the "taxis de la Marne" (photo 4). In September 1914, 600 taxis from Paris were requisitioned to bring troops to the Marne battlefield. The movement started at the Invalides and conveyed 5 infantry battalions (total 5000 man).
What is not shown in this museum are heavy weapons like tanks or planes. For the tanks one should visit the "Musée des Blindés" in Saumur (on the Loire) where there are more than 800 tanks!
Open: 10 - 17 h from 1/10 to 31/03
10 - 18 h from 1/04 to 30/09
Closed: 1st Monday of each month.
Price: 8,50 € includes entry to the Tomb of Napoleon, Army museum, Relief Map museum and Museum of the Order of Liberation. Address: Invalides, Musée de l'Armée.Directions: Western wing of the Invalides.Website: www.invalides.org
|
 | |  |
Visiting Paris?
Read reviews about Paris Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
Hotel des Invalides was built in the 1670s by order of King Louis XIV as a hospital and nursing home for the thousands of French war veterans - it still serves as such for about a hundred people. Most of the complex has now been turned into a war museum, and the majestic Dome des Invalides is where Emperor Napoleon I has been laid to rest.
Although it is free to walk around Les Invalides and to enter the church Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, it costs 8 Euros to visit the Dome and the war museum (but you can use your Museum Pass if you have one). Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, otherwise knows as the soldiers' church was completed in 1708. Its only ornaments are flags that were taken from the enemy in the course of France's numerous wars. Napoleon Bonaparte's tomb sits underneath the Dome des invalides and is surrounded by the tombs of other French war heroes, such as Marshal Foch.
As for the war museum, we only visited the part of the exhibition that covered the two World Wars. We thought we'd just take a quick peak as we didn't feel like getting into something this heavy when we were so light-hearted but we ended up visiting the whole thing. The exhibition was captivating and very moving - I will always remember the uniform of a French soldier killed during the 1914-18 war, still covered in mud from the trenches, as well as the German street signs that were put up in Paris during the 1939-45 war. Leave a Comment
|
| | |
The Invalides are in my opinion one of the most beautiful architectural complexes of Paris. Approaching by the Seine and the Esplanade or by the back from the south, with the Dome, a great harmony of proportions emanates from the Hôtel des Invalides. The architect Bruant was appointed by Louvois secretary of War under the reign of Louis XIV.
The wall in the front part of the garden is surmounted with ancient guns showing a beautiful green patina (photo 1). From the gate the visitor has a fine view on the whole frontage with the top of the gilded Dome above the roofs.
The garden aligns tubes of old guns. The sight towards the Seine and the Grand Palais in the axis of this gun (photo 2) whose back represents a head of smiling lion is superb.
The interior courtyard is at the same time sober and elegant (photo 3). Tubes of guns are aligned on the sides. Under the arcades stand an old gun on wheels (photo 4). The Invalides is since 1871 also an Artillery museum.
As for the back of the Invalides, the Dome Church is magnificent. The architect was Jules Hardouin-Mansart under Louis XIV (photo 5).
Open: 10 - 17 h from 1/10 to 31/03
10 - 18 h from 1/04 to 30/09
Closed: 1st Monday of each month.
Price: 8,50 € includes entry to the Tomb of Napoleon, Army museum, Relief Map museum and Museum of the Order of Liberation.
===============================
Les Invalides constituent à mes yeux un des plus beaux ensembles architecturaux de Paris. Que l'on s'approche par le côté Seine, par l'esplanade, ou par l'arrière, par le Dôme, il se dégage de l'Hôtel des Invalides une grande harmonie de proportions.
A l'avant plan se détache le mur surmonté de quelques cannons à la belle patine verte derrière lequel s'étend le jardin qui ouvre une belle perspective sur l'ensemble de la façade (photo 1) due à l'architecte Libéral Bruant choisi par Louvois ministre de la Guerre de Louis XIV.
Au dessus des toits se détache le Dôme avec ses dorures. Le jardin aligne des tubes de canons anciens. La vue vers la Seine et le Grand Palais dans l'axe de ce canon (photo 2) dont l'arrière représente une tête de lion grimaçant est superbe. Depuis 1871 se trouve ici le Musée d'Artillerie.
La cour intérieure est à la fois sobre et élégante (photo 3). Des tubes de canons sont alignés sur les côtés. Sous les arcades se trouve une belle pièce d'artillerie ancienne sur roues (photo 4).
Quant à l'arrière des Invalides au sud, la vue du Dôme n'a pas son égal en Europe à mon avis. C''est l'architecte du Roi Louis XIV Jules Hardouin-Mansart qui réalise la grande église royale en 1676 (photo 5).
Address: Esplanade des Invalides, 75007 Paris
|
| | |
As I am not an admirer of Napoleon, or of the other potentates who put Europe in fire and in blood, I visited several times the Invalides leaving aside Napoleon's tomb.
Nevertheless Bonaparte is not unknown to me because he lost the definitive battle in Waterloo, that is not far from my home.
During my recent visit to the museum of the army at the Invalides, I took advantage of my museum pass to enter under the dome. No doubt that the dome with its gilts is one of the grandiose Paris' monuments. Furthermore the flowery gardens in front of the monument are beautiful
Inside I was unpleasantly surprised by the almost deification of the emperor Napoleon, the monumental sarcophagus, the souvenirs of Bonaparte presented as saint's relics.
The worship of the emperor is not for me; too many people suffered because of his megalomania. However I recognize that his rationalization of antiquated legal systems in the "Code Napoléon" was a great progress for the principle of equality before the law and is still influencing present European legal systems.
Open: 10 - 17 h from 1/10 to 31/03
10 - 18 h from 1/04 to 30/09
Closed: 1st Monday of each month.
Price: 8,50 € includes entry to the Tomb of Napoleon, Army museum, Relief Map museum and Museum of the Order of Liberation.
====================================
La déification de Napoléon.
N'étant pas un admirateur de Napoléon, ni des autres potentats qui ont mis l'Europe à feu et à sang, j'ai visité plusieurs fois les Invalides en laissant de côté le tombeau de Napoléon. Pourtant le personnage ne m'est pas inconnu puisqu'il a perdu la bataille définitive à Waterloo, c'est-à-dire pas loin de ma demeure.
Lors de ma récente visite au musée de l'armée aux Invalides, j'ai profité de mon museum pass pour entrer sous le dôme resplendissant de ses dorures. Le dôme est incontestablement un des monuments grandioses de Paris. De plus les jardins fleuris qui le précèdent sont de toute beauté.
J'ai été désagréablement surpris à l'intérieur par la quasi déification de l'empereur Napoléon, le sarcophage monumental, les souvenirs de Bonaparte présentes comme des reliques de saint.
Le culte de l'empereur n'est pas pour moi; trop de gens ont souffert à cause de sa folie des grandeurs. Address: Invalides, Dôme.Directions: Entrance South by Place Vauban.Website: www.invalides.org
|
| | |
This department of medieval arms has been renovated in 2005 and with 2500 m2 has now one of the best collections in the world after Vienna and Madrid (now transferred to Toledo) (ref. my reviews of these museums).
The new circuit of visit evokes the military history of France between the 13th and the 17th century, combined with thematic spaces about the productions of the big European workshops in Milan, Augsbourg and Innsbruck in the 16th century, the suits of armours of joust and tournaments, the weapons for hunting, the oriental weapons. Most spectacular are the suits of armour of the French kings.
This department is really worthwhile visiting.
Open: 10 - 17 h from 1/10 to 31/03
10 - 18 h from 1/04 to 30/09
Closed: 1st Monday of each month.
Price: 8,50 € includes entry to the Tomb of Napoleon, Army museum, Relief Map museum and Museum of the Order of Liberation. Address: Invalides - Musée de l'armée - Armes anciennesDirections: Ground floor of the Musée de l'ArméeWebsite: www.invalides.org
|
| | |
Visiting Paris?
Read reviews about Paris Hotels
Real Reviews from Real VirtualTourist Members.
In 1840, it was decided that the remains of Emperor Napolean would be transferred.
His national funeral took place December 15th of the same year.
The sculptor Visconti was commissioned to build the tomb which was completed in 1861 and the Emperor's remains were then placed in it. (What I'd like to know, is where did they store Napolean's remains from 1840 to 1861?)
The tomb, made in red porphyry [a type of rock consisting of feldspar crystals embedded in a compact dark red (or purple) groundmass], and placed on a base in green granite from Les Vosges, is surrounded by a wreath of laurel and inscriptions recalling the major victories of the Empire.
In the circular gallery surrounding the tomb, a series of bas-reliefs sculpted by Simart represent the principal actions of his reign.
At the centre, above the slab under which the King of Rome rests, stands a statue of the Emperor, bearing the imperial emblems.
Napolean's Tomb can be visited until 7 p.m. from mid-June to mid-September.
It opens at 10 a.m. Leave a Comment Phone: 01.44.42.37.72Directions: Inside the Dome Church in L'Hotel National des Invalides
|
| | |
Louis XIV built this "hotel" to shelter the disable soldiers of his numerous campaigns.
One of my ancesters, a gendarme (French horserider policeman) died there in 1847. At this time, it was a house for retired soldiers.
Napoleon's tomb is here. The emperor's body is protected by 6 coffins and nobody dares to make an autopsy to discover if he was poisened by Hudson Lowe, his jailer, in 1821.
Les Invalides are also the Army Museum which is open from 10AM to 6PM (5PM and 5:30PM on Sunday, on low season).
Ticket : 7 euros
The museum presents uniforms, arms and paintings from the Middle Age to the contemporary time.
During my last visit I was with a couple of American VTers and we had the chance to see a re-enactment in memory of the Napoleon's coronation, 200 years later, on December 2, 1804. I saw a grenadier of the Napolenic guard taking his cellular out of his pocket to answer a call...
My advice : for history lovers (I am) Leave a Comment Address: 129 rue de Grenelle 7e arrondissementPhone: 331.44.42.38.77Directions: Metro : Latour-Maubourg Nearby : Tour Eiffel, musee RodinWebsite: www.invalides.org
|
| | |
The Saint-Louis Church of the Invalids has something unique in Europe by the fact that the building is double: the nave constitutes the Church of the Soldiers, while the chorus, under the cupola, is called the Dome. Up to the Revolution, the two churches used the same high altar. The distinction was concretized by the installation, in 1873, of a large window separating the two parts.
There is presently a marked contrast between the Church of the Soldiers with a clear and sober décor (and few visitors) and the much visited Dome with the tomb of Napoleon and its magnificent marble decors but there exists an architectural continuity particularly visible from aerial views.
The architect was Jules Hardouin-Mansart who produced in 1680 the final design for the Dome des Invalides, a Greek cross inscribed in a square with an attached circular presbytery. It is a highlight of the French classical architecture and a point of reference in the Parisian landscape culminating at 101 meters. In 1989, at the time of the bicentenary of the French revolution, the dome was regilded with 550.000 sheets of gold, i.e. more than ten kilos.
The Saint-Louis church (presently a cathedral) was completed in 1679 and intended for the worship and the daily offices of the disabled army veterans.
Another unique characteristic is the fact that the vault is decorated with military trophies of France, and contains the tombs of Marshals of France, important military chiefs as well as many governors of the Invalides.
Saint-Louis des Invalides is attached administratively to the museum of the Army and is today the seat of vicariate to the French Armies and used each year for commemorative masses among which the mass remembering the death of Napoleon I.
The Organ built by Alexandre Thierry in 1679 is famous but was repaired and modified on several occasions. It is in this church that the world's première of Hector Berlioz's Requiem was given in 1837.
Entry is free. Address: Invalides
|
| | |
 View of the dome through
one of the arches by Lady_Mystique,
3 more photos
At the end of the XVIIth century, the hotel, a true miniature city, governed by a religious & military system, housed up to 400 guests. The soldiers were divided into companies and operated workshops (cobbling, tapestry, illumination). Today, the national institution still persues its initial vocation for which it was founded.
While at L'Hotel national des Invalides be sure to see:
1. The Soldier's Church (St. Louis Church)
2. The Dome Church
3. The Emperor's Tomb where Napolean's remains were placed
4. Weapons and Armour from Antiquity to the XVIIth C. (ground floor, west wing)
5. The First and Second World War Rooms (2nd floor, west wing)
6. Artillery Dept. (1st floor, west room)
7. Emblem Dept. (ground floor, east wing)
8. Vauban Room (French Army from 1680 to present)
9. Rooms devoted to the Ancient Monarchy
10. The Revolution & Empire Rooms
11. The Bugeaud Room
12. The Chanzy & Pelissier Rooms
13. The Boutique
14. The Cafeteria
HOURS:
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from October to March (check for exact dates as they will vary year to year)
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April to September
Napolean's Tomb can be visited until 7 p.m., from June to September. Leave a Comment Address: Avenue de Tourville - 75007 ParisPhone: (0)1 44 42 38 77Directions: Esplanade des Invalides --- Subway station: Invalides, Latour-Maubourg, Varenne, Saint-Francois-Xavier Bus Lines no. 28/49/63/69/82/83/87/92 RER: InvalidesWebsite: http://www.invalides.org/
|
| | |
 Les Invalides by CALSF
If you approach Les Invalides from the Pont Alexandre III it is a very impressive sight to behold. Long entranceway with a huge lawn with the building in the center. You can also approach it via rue de Varenne to the side. No matter what approach you take the building is huge and it actually resembles the Pantheon.
Not only is Les Invalides still housing the retired military personnel but it's famous for Napleon's tomb and the army museum. You pay one entrance fee to see both the tomb and museum.
Napoleon's tomb is in the main building that has the dome. It's directly in the center of the building and is huge. His remains are interred in several coffins within the tomb. The tomb itself is red and is made from Finnish porphyry. It's funny to think of this small emperor within this enormous tomb.
Above Napoleon's tomb is an altar and to one side there is another tomb, that of his brother, Joseph Bonaparte, Commander Foch, and the Vicompte de Turenne. There are also model displays of the French Army and some examples of military dress. Leave a Comment Address: Place des Invalides, 75007Directions: From rue de Varenne walk towards the direction of the Eiffel Tower or walk down the Seine until you reach the Pont Alexandre III, cross the street to Les Invalides (cannot miss it)
|
| | |
More Paris Tips Overview
| Hotels and Accommodations
Tips: 2,053 - Photos: 1,652 | Things To Do
Tips: 10,145 - Photos: 17,346 | Nightlife
Tips: 873 - Photos: 806 | Transportation
Tips: 1,633 - Photos: 1,378 | Restaurants
Tips: 2,625 - Photos: 2,535 | Shopping
Tips: 827 - Photos: 938 | Off the Beaten Path
Tips: 1,801 - Photos: 2,714 | Tourist Traps
Tips: 502 - Photos: 330 | Warnings or Dangers
Tips: 812 - Photos: 408 | Local Customs
Tips: 833 - Photos: 736 | Packing Lists
Tips: 274 - Photos: 157 | Sports Travel
Tips: 110 - Photos: 130 | General Tips
Tips: 2,457 - Photos: 2,445 | Flights
Tips: 110 - Photos: 0 |
 |
|
More Paris Travel Deals Crowne Plaza Hotels Paris
Very comfortable accommodation near Eiffel Tower, Montmartre & Shopping Paris 35€ per night
Cool hotels, hostels, apartments Always 35€/night. Always central Hotel in Paris
Paris hotel reservations Official site. Low rates guaranteed Sponsored Links
- Villa Des Impressionnistes
15 Quai Rennequin Sualem, Paris - Hotel Balladins Paris XIXe
219 Rue de Crimee 19th Arr., Paris - Mercure Paris XV
6 rue Saint Lambert, Paris - PV-Holidays Adagio City Aparthotel Montmartre Paris
10 Place Charles Dullin, Paris - Pavillon Opera Lafayette
23 rue de la Tour d'Auvergne (formerly Hotel Sylvia Opera), Paris - Avia Montparnasse Hotel Paris
181, rue de Vaugirard 15th Arr., Paris - Mercure Square des Batignolles Hotel Paris
165 Rue de Rome 17 Arr., Paris - LA RESERVE PARIS
10 Place du Trocadéro, Paris - Express by Holiday Inn Porte d'Italie Paris
1-3 Rue Elisee Reclus Boulevard du General de Gaulle, Paris - Eber Mars
117 av La Bourdonnais, Paris - Hotel Britannique
20 avenue Victoria 01 Arr., Paris - Royal Phare Hotel
40 avenue de la Motte Picquet, Paris - Hotel Cluny Square
21 boulevard Saint-Michel 05 Arr., Paris - Prima Lepic Hotel Paris
29 Rue Lepic 18th Arr., Paris - Choiseul Opera
1 rue Daunou 2nd Arr., Paris
|
