'Revisiting' Napoleon Bonaparte at Les Invalides

The Baroque architecture of Les Invalides or L'Hotel national des Invalides (National Residence of the Invalids) never fails to impress. Revisiting the complex of buildings relating to the military history of France invokes the grandeur of the French Army especially under the lead of Napoleon Bonaparte.

The huge complex include museums (Musee de l'Armee, Musee des Plans-Relief, Musee de l'Artillerie), a church (Cathedrale Saint Louis de Invalides), hospital, retirement home, mausoleum and other monuments. Founded by Louis XIV (the Sun King) in 1671 as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans, the architects Mansart and Bruant saw to it being opened in 1676.

At the entrance to Les Invalides (2014)

Cannons taken from the enemies (CNB 2014)

The Army Museum lies on both sides of the expansive cour d'honneur and Napoleon Bonaparte's statue stands proud overlooking this monumental forecourt. Napoleon was entombed under the Dome des Invalides in 1840. Les Invalides is also the burial site for some of France's war heroes.

Napoleon Bonaparte at Les Invalides (CNB 2014)

Cour d'honneur of Les Invalides (CNB 2014)