The Hôtel des Invalides
Ce point d’intérêt est disponible en audio dans le circuit: Visit Paris, On the Champs Elysées
The Hôtel des Invalides, the grand building you see in the square, was the brainchild of Louis XIV, a king known for his compassion towards soldiers. So, in the 1670s, he had this institution built to care for wounded veterans who had served the French Crown. The complex is massive, housing some 4,000 people in various facilities, including a hospice, convent, factory and barracks. The vast esplanade on which you now stand connects the Alexandre III Bridge to the Hôtel des Invalides. The idea was to create a community vegetable garden – a place for veterans and Parisians to meet and socialize. Inclusivity at its best! You see, it was a first-of-its-kind effort to integrate people with disabilities into everyday life! Today, the building is the property of the Ministry of Defense. However, the Invalides still serves its original purpose as a hospice, providing care for severely injured war veterans. You’ll also find several museums here, including the renowned Army Museum. Then there’s the iconic Saint-Louis Church, with its stunning golden dome. It’s most famous for housing the tomb of Napoleon I. And yes, he died in exile in Saint Helena, an English colony. However, as time went on and the initial outrage over Napoleon and his deadly wars subsided, many began to look back fondly on the Napoleonic era. Ever the political opportunist, King Louis Philippe, sought permission from the British to repatriate the body. In 1840, Napoleon’s ashes were returned to France. They considered placing them in the Panthéon, and the Arc de Triomphe, but in the end, they chose Les Invalides for its strong military symbolism and also for practical reasons – they needed space to build a tomb fit for France’s greatest emperor! You can visit the tomb by purchasing a ticket to the museum. Be sure to ask about the various tours on offer to learn more about this monument to French military history.
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