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Invalide Hotel and Esplanade

Les Invalides: opening hours, prices, tips

by stillinparis

The Invalides is a impressive complex composed by the Hotel des Invalides, a beautiful park (the Esplanade des Invalides) and many museums. Below, you’ll find some tips about those spots along with opening hours and prices.

Hotel des Invalides and Military museum

King Louis XIV decided to build a hospital for invalid soldiers. It was built following the shape of an empty rectangle and finished in 1676 . Today, it houses a few old soldiers, some army offices and The Military Museum where fine collections of armor, flags, uniforms, equipment and tin soldiers are on display. This place is an inescapable for military history enthusiasts from all over the world.

Invalides by night
Invalides by night

While leaving the building, walk through the fore-court with its ancient cannon to the Place des Invalides. Then turn around and take a good look at the frontage designed by Bruand. It is 195 meters long with 200 windows decreasing in size while going toward the roof.

The monotony of the long frontage is broken by a central doorway designed to reach the top of the roof. Two gigantic statues of Mars and Minerva stand on each side of this door representing “Valour” and “Wisdom”. They were carved in stone by Guillaume Coustou and Cartellier.

The best spot to look at the building is from the far end of the Esplanade des Invalides (490 meters long, 250 meters large). From there you can see how well the frontage and the dome of the church behind blend in with each other, proof of the mutual understanding between their two architects.

How to get to the Invalides

Address:
129 rue de Grenelle 75007 Paris
Mo: Invalides (line 8, 13 and RER C) , Varenne (l13)

Opening hours:
Mon. to Sat. : 10 am to 6 pm (to 9pm on Tuesday)
Sunday : 10 am to 5 pm from Oct. to Mar., 10 am to 6:30 pm from Apr. to Sept.
Closed the 1st Monday of the month

Prices:
€12 (or €9 reduced price)

>> Book here your Q-Jump ticket for Les Invalides and military museum

 Invalides Must See

  • The Honor Court
  • The Emperor Grave
  • The Military Museum
Invalide Hotel and Esplanade
Invalide Hotel and Esplanade

Church Saint Louis des Invalides – The Dome Church

The Church is a huge building with an immense dome. It was built by Jules Hardouin-Mansart (one of the architects that designed Versailles) following the Italian style. The dome supports a lantern and a spire, adding elegance to the church from every possible angle.

The church authentic decorations and sculptures remained fair. In the crypt, you can see a red granite sarcophagus from Finland offered by the Czar Nicolas 1er.

The remains of Napoleon 1er were placed there in 1840 following the Emperor’s desire, “I wish my remains to rest by the banks of the Seine amongst the French people whom I have loved so much”.

Price:
Entry fees are included with the admission to the Hotel des Invalides.

Opening hours:
Monday to Sunday : 10am to 5 pm from Oct to Mar, 10 am to 6:30 pm from Apr to Sept.
Closed the 1st Monday of the month

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