|
Official
Web Site
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The
Hotel des Invalides was originally designed back in the 17th century
to house disabled soldiers and those too old to fight.
This function is still operative, but the grand buildings and associated
churches now host military museums and the church the tomb of Napoleon
among others.
There are two main entrances. The top picture is what you see if you
enter from the north entrance. Enter through the main arch into a
large cobbled courtyard, with cannons and a medieval feel. The (second)
picture doesn't really show well the coarse cobblestones which give
a true medieval feel to the place
The south entrance has the Eglise du Dome church dominating where
Napoleon's tomb is. A side archway takes you through to the courtyard.
You are free to roam the grounds and courtyard, only the museums and
church carry entrance fees.
By the south entrance is a pleasant park with plenty of seating to
relax, you may come across some of the current invalides here. |
Indicative
Admission Charges
(see official web-site,
link at top of page) |
One
ticket gains access to all the attractions in the complex.
The Musée de l'Armée is the main military museum. Pretty
much what you'd expect. Napoleon and Charles de Gaulle are main areas
of focus.
The museum sprawls over several floors and exhibits include up to
date items including the Gulf War.
The scale models museum or Musée de Plans-Reliefs has large
scale models of French fortified cities and towns, some taking up
a whole room. |
| Access
to the Musée de l'Armée, to the Tomb of Napoléon
I, to temporary exhibitions, to the Scale-Models Museum and to the
Order of the Liberation Museum. |
| Adult
|
7.00
€ |
| Children
< 18 yrs old |
Free |
The
Order of the Liberation Museum relates to Charles de Gaulle and relates
to the liberation of France in the second world war.
The tomb of Napoleon is in the Eglise du Dome at the south end of
the complex. |
Getting
There:
The Hotel des Invalides is a pleasant stroll from the Eiffel Tower
and a good accompaniment to a visit there.
Otherwise, get Metro
to La Tour Maubourg or Varenne (line 8)
The number 69 bus
runs along the Rue de Rivoli from Chatelet to the Louvre before crossing
the Seine, get off at the Esplanade de Invalides, a large green space
with the Hotel des Invalides to your left.
All the Paris
hop-on, hop-off bus services stop at the Hotel des Invalides. |
The
Paris Open Top Double Decker Bus Tours operated by L'OpenTour are
a common sight in Paris at all the major visitor attractions.
The formula is the same as many similar operations operating world-wide.
A ticket which entitles you to unlimited rides on the buses which
run along several routes passing all major Paris visitor attractions.
More
Details - Ticket Purchase
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