Louis the 14th, the king who
built the Palace of Versailles, staged many wars
in Europe. In 1670, he decided to build Les Invalides, a Paris military hospital,
that would take care of wounded
soldiers.
With their large church topped by a golden dome
(below) and 13
hectares building, Les Invalides are a masterpiece of French classical architecture.
The ashes of the greatest French military genius, Napoléon, rest under the
dome of the Invalides and attract many
visitors to Paris. |
Les Invalides
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The dome of Les Invalides
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Look for the Musée de
l'Armée (Army museum) and its large collection of armours from the Middle Ages. Varenne
on line 13 is the nearest metro station.
Les Invalides can also be reached from the Champs-Elysées by crossing the Alexandre III
bridge and walking across the esplanade des Invalides. One of the nicest walks in Paris.
Les Invalides are open from 10am to 5pm, 6pm from April to
September. Telephone 33 (0)1 45 55 37 70. Web
site.
A nice way to discover the Invalides is on a guided
tour on Napoleon foosteps through the Invalides, the Arch of Triomph and
the Malmaison near Paris.
Paris
other great monuments
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