Hôtel des Invalides

Updated on September 13, 2026

The Hôtel National des Invalides, known simply as "Les Invalides," is a vast architectural complex and one of the most important in Paris. This immense complex was built at the behest of Louis XIV to house and care for wounded and disabled soldiers. Les Invalides has a unique beauty: the classicism of its façade, a masterpiece of 17th-century French architecture, is offset by the baroque style of the Dome Church. Inside the complex you'll find the famous Musée de l'Armée (Army Museum), one of the largest museums of military art and history in the world, home to weapons from all over the globe. The Invalides complex also includes the Soldiers' Church, which houses a collection of flags seized from the enemy during various military campaigns. The Dome Church, designed by architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, houses in its open circular crypt Napoleon's deep-red tomb, along with the remains of other French war heroes.

Highlights

A stroll through the inner courtyards

You can walk through the courtyards and gardens of the Hôtel National des Invalides from north to south. This lets you admire the architectural beauty of the buildings without needing a ticket.

Musée de l'Armée

Visiting the Hôtel National des Invalides without stopping by the Musée de l'Armée would be a shame. This French national military museum was born in 1905 from the merger of the Musée d'Artillerie and the Musée Historique de l'Armée. At the Musée de l'Armée you'll find a collection of weapons from around the world: ancient armor, small artillery models, mementos of famous generals, documents, and even paintings. One of the museum's most fascinating features is its permanent exhibition dedicated to the Second World War.

The Dome Church and Napoleon's tomb

The Dome Church is the name of the church at the Hôtel National des Invalides, which has housed Napoleon Bonaparte's tomb since 1840. The tomb was created by the celebrated architect Visconti. The Dome Church also holds the remains of two of Napoleon's brothers, his son the Aiglon, and Marshals Foch and Lyautey. It also contains the tomb holding Vauban's heart.

Église Saint-Louis

The flags seized by France from the enemy as trophies were kept at Notre-Dame Cathedral until the French Revolution. Starting in 1793, the flags that survived destruction were transferred to the Soldiers' Church at Les Invalides, where they remain to this day.

Infos pratiques

Tips

If you visit the Hôtel National des Invalides in summer, be sure to leave through the north gate and walk to the banks of the Seine — you'll find a lively, festive atmosphere there. You can also stroll through the Hôtel's courtyards and gardens without spending a cent.

How to get there

If you're driving, here's the address: Hôtel des Invalides – Musée de l'Armée, 129 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris. There's an underground parking lot accessible from the Esplanade des Invalides. You can also reach the Hôtel des Invalides in Paris by metro, RER, or bus: Metro line 8 to "La Tour Maubourg" or "Invalides" stations; Metro line 13 to "Varenne" or "Saint-François-Xavier" stations; RER C to "Invalides" station; Bus lines: 8, 69, 82, 92, 63, 83, 93.