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ranked #3 out of 10 attractions | rated 2.56 out of 5 | total 59 votes |
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Hotel des Invalides
Why the Hotel des Invalides is a Paris tourist attraction that isn’t worth a visit
The Hotel des Invalides was built in 1670 by Louis XIV as a home for injured war veterans (hence “invalides”). Today you find in the complex a still functioning military hospital and three military museums.
Many say the Hotel des Invalides is a must-see tourist attraction. We say it is, but only if you’re interested in war memorabilia. The war museums are housing different types of weapons used throughout the years, suits of armor, cannons, many maps, scale models of French regions and other war related things.
Many say the Hotel des Invalides is worth a visit, because Napoleon Bonaparte is entombed there. Well, if you have time to spare, we say go for it. The tomb is reasonable interesting and you can visit it in a fairly short amount of time.
Napoleon Bonaparte was a vain little man, you can clearly see this with his tomb in the St Jerome’s Chapel. His tomb at the center of the chapel is obscenely massive - it’s 42 feet (12.8m) high. Napoleon is incased in 7 caskets which are made of iron, mahagony, lead, ebony and red porphyry. Around on the walls are scenes from his deeds showing him as Emperor of Rome. Not bad for man claiming to be liberating people from royality. He was obviously in love with the institution of monarchy and its regalia.
So, if you’re interested in pomposity and grandeur, you should have a look at one of Napoleon’s many over the top monuments.
If you’re happy to watch it from a distance, you can’t miss it, because the massive gold dome of the Hotel des Invalides is a landmark seen from almost any viewpoint in the city.
| Attraction: | Hotel des Invalides | |
|---|---|---|
| Address: | avenue de Tourville, 75007 Paris | |
| Opening hours: | Days | Time |
| Apr-Sept | 10:00 a.m. - 06:00 p.m. | |
| Oct-Mar | 10:00 a.m. - 04:45 p.m. | |
| Admission fees: | Ticket type | Price |
| Tickets | €6 | |
January 17, 2006 @ 2:08 am
Ramses said,
Napoleon rocks!
October 28, 2006 @ 2:47 am
Mark Seery said,
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Hotel des Invalides. The military exhibits were excellent. The French have a long, illustrious history and their military campaigns have been studied by historians for both their triumphs and failures. I particularly enjoyed all the exhibits, though the WWI area was under reconstruction in June 2005 when I visited. The tombs of several of their military heroes surround Napoleon’s Tomb on the upper level. The highest floor to visit has a fascinating room with many of the France’s great military sites built in scaled building and terrain models. While many people abhor military exhibitions, understanding war is important to maintaining the peace.
January 8, 2007 @ 3:44 pm
Sam said,
Les Invalides is not only impressive architecturally, but the displays are extraordinarily moving. Check out the Paris taxi (on of many) that was used to convey soldiers three or four at a time to the Battle of the Marne. And the plaque on the upper level commemorating the fallen French Jewish soldiers who fell in WWI, stolen by the Nazi’s and returned to Les Invalides in 1945. We never got to see the sarcophagus, but did see the replica of Napoleon’s very modest tomb from his first burial site on the island of St. Helena. Napoleon died in 1821 and his remains were not returned to Paris until 1842 - here’s a link with a great description of Les Invalides - http://www.frommers.com/destinations/paris/A25284.html
May 2, 2007 @ 7:35 pm
Paris France said,
Carolyn I found this article to be extremely useful for me. Thanks!
August 23, 2007 @ 8:45 pm
January said,
Les Invalides is, essentially, a French war museum, why is that not interesting? I visited the site last year and it was very enjoyable, particularly as an American to get a detailed account of WWII. It was the very first time I have actually managed to see Nazi propoganda, etc… there’s so much history here, how on earth one could not recommend is beyond me.
February 8, 2008 @ 8:30 pm
chapel said,
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September 9, 2008 @ 11:08 am
ms. scorpio said,
i think it is beautiful place because it is historical place. either i didn’t see i feel it is good
June 22, 2009 @ 12:38 am
JD said,
I also enjoyed my visit, but I like Napoleon! I agree that it is a beautiful place architecturally and many people are interested in military history/memorabilia. I think the article has a good point for a certain crowd that isn’t but could be a bit more objective and mention the beautiful architecture, as some people might visit for that.
February 18, 2010 @ 5:05 pm
angela said,
Love your site.. really useful!
But wht you say about Napolians tomb… and him being a vain little man… He didnt design it for himself.. he was buried in the countryside and 19 years later a king ehumed his body and made this site for him.. to be appropriately recognised? Isnt that right? :/