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Monuments
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ARC DE TRIOMPHE
Monument built in honour of the French Army and inaugurated... |
CONCIERGERIE
This important vestige of the Capetian Palace is a... |
HOTEL DE VILLE
Seat of the Paris City Council. The first municipality was... |
MUSEE DU LOUVRE
The Louvre Museum presents collections of western art from... |
PANTHEON
Masterpiece by Soufflot (1713-1780) and former church, the... |
SAINTE CHAPELLE
Jewel of gothic architecture, the Sainte Chapelle was built... |
TOUR EIFFEL
The most famous monument in the world (324 metres, 10 100... |
PONT NEUF
The Pont-Neuf is the oldest of Paris bridges and the first... |
MUSEE D'ORSAY
The Orsay Railway Station, built by architect Victor Laloux,... |
Champs-Élysées
The glamour of the Champs-Élysées, particularly its upper... |
La Defense
"La Defense", whose lines can be followed to the Arc de... |
Notre-Dame
The cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic art, has witnessed... |
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Hotel National Des Invalides
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Description
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Les Invalides comprises the largest single collection/complex of monuments in Paris, including:
Musée de l'Armée
Musée des Plans-Reliefs
Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération
L'Eglise de St-Louis-des-Invalides
In 1670, Louis XIV - the Sun King - founded Les Invalides near what was then called the Grenelle Plain. An old soldiers home, it was funded by a five year levy on the salaries of soldiers currently serving in the army at that time. The first stones were laid in 1671, for what was to become a complex providing quarters for 4,000. Construction followed plans drawn up by Libéral Bruant, and was completed in 1676. The Esplandade was layed out by Robert de Cotte.
Construction of the dome began in 1706. Designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and completed by de Cotte after Mansart died in 1708.
Many of the arms used by the mob when it attacked the Bastille on 14 July 1789 were taken from Les Invalide on the morning of that day. Despite resistence by the posted sentries, they were overwhelmed by the mob which finally entered the underground rifle storehouse. Roughly 28,000 arms were taken.
The most significant event in the history of Les Invalides however, is unquestionably the return of the body of Napoléon in 1840. After seven years of negotiation with the British government, Louis-Philippe, King of France, obtained permission to repatriate the Emperor's remains from St. Helena. On 8 October 1840 - 19 years after the death of the Emperor - the coffin was exhumed and opened for two minutes before transport to France aboard the frigate La Belle Poule. Those present claim that the body remained in a state of perfect preservation.
After arriving at Le Havre, it was brought up the Seine and landed at Paris at Courbevoie. On 15 December 1840 a state funeral was held, and despite a winter snowstorm, the hearse proceeded from the Arc de Triomphe down the Champs-Elysées, across the Place de la Concorde to the Esplanade and finally to the cupola in St Jerome's Chapel until the tomb - designed by Visconti - was completed. On 3 April 1861 Napoléon I came to his final rest in the crypt under de dome.
Website:
Esplanade des Invalides
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