Les Invalides

In 1676, King Louis XIV commissioned from Jules Hardouin-Mansart the construction of a house of worship in the midst of the complex of Les Invalides Museum spaces.The project combined:

• a veterans’ chapel (currently Cathedral of Saint-Louis des Invalides) and

• a chapel intended for the exclusive use of the King (today the Dôme des Invalides).

The royal church was consecrated to Saint-Louis and is hence often referred to as Eglise Saint-Louis des Invalides. It took 27 years to finish construction on the Dome Church.

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This collection, which also includes some noteworthy archaeological artifacts, chronicles the development of military equipment from the 13th to 17th century. It highlights the place of weapons and armor in Europe, in the lives of royal courts, aristocratic societies and even cities in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. Themed rooms, some housed in the historic settings of the Hôtel des Invalides, are devoted to notable groups of exhibits, including the French royal collections or the great European armory factories. There are additional areas about hunting, jousting and tournaments, shooting, luxury gun smithery and artillery which you can explore with Les Invalides Tickets.

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The Saint-Louis Cathedral reveals how essential religious faith was to Louis XIV. This history of this structure enables visitors to journey back in time in a wonderful environment. It was left unfinished by Libéral Bruant when Marquis de Louvois, the Secretary of State for War, tasked Jules Hardouin-Mansart with its construction in 1676. The "Dôme des Invalides," a royal chapel, and a veterans' chapel were seamlessly integrated into the architect's plan.

From 1940 to 1945, France was free thanks to the efforts of its Companions of the Liberation, whose pictures are displayed in the Museum of the Order of Liberation. General de Gaulle created the Order of the Liberation in November 1940 to honour those who fought valiantly to free France. It was only when General de Gaulle placed the Order of the Liberation into the Hôtel National des Invalides that the Museum of the Order of the Liberation was established.

For visitors, chronological continuity and themed regions let them learn about France's social and economic history. Discover the life of soldiers, explore how technology and tactics were developed, and meet the people who shaped this era through the eyes of the troops themselves.

Military equipment, weapons, harnesses, orders, and decorations, as well as emblems, historical figurines, musical instruments, and small artillery models, are all on display in this department, which has collections unlike any other in the world. These include items that belonged to Napoleon Bonaparte and his marshals as well as items that belonged to ordinary soldiers.

The main courtyard of the Hôtel National des Invalides site is where many events take place and a substantial portion of the artillery and gigantic sculpture collections are on display. At 102 meters long and 64 meters broad, this is the largest courtyard that you can visit with your Les Invalides Tickets. It is an example of 17th-century classical architecture, with four buildings enclosing two levels of arcaded galleries. There's a dramatic contrast in architectural style between the dormers and the facades, which are marked by their opulent embellishment.