Welcome to the Église du Dôme in Les Invalides.
Les Invalides is a building complex with three major parts; the Museum area, the church and
the dome area.
In case this is the first of our three Les Invalides guides you are listening to, I will
give you a brief summary of the Les Invalides history.
The name "Les Invalides" is actually a shortened form of "Hôpital des Invalides" meaning "The
Hospital for Invalids.
Hinted in its name, the building complex was originally built as a large hospital and home
for soldiers who had been wounded and injured during war.
Les Invalides was initiated by King Louis XIV on November 24th 1670 and the building
complex stood finished later in 1675.
The chapel area of Les Invalides was added shortly after the completion of the main area
and the veteran's chapel was finished in 1679.
Now lets talk some more about the beautiful place you are standing at right now; the dome
area of Les Invalides.
Shortly after the veterans' chapel was completed, Louis XIV constructed a separate private royal
chapel, which was named "Église du Dôme".
The architect for the dome was Jules Hardouin-Mansart and the Dome Church stood finished 1706, in
which it was inaugurated by the king himself.
The Dome is considered one of the very finest examples of French Baroque architecture.
The dome was inspired by the origin of all Baroque domes; the grand St. Peters Basilica
in Rome.
The Église du Dôme has in turn inspired several buildings, for example the San Francisco
City Hall.
In 1989 during the 200th anniversary of the French Revolution, the dome itself was regilded
for the 5th time since its creation.
During the process, a large number of thin gold leaves were used, which total weight
equaled around ten kilos pure gold.
The dome is not only beautiful on the outside, but also on the inside.
The magnificent paintings you will see in the roof originate from late 17th, early 18th
century and were painted by Charles de La Fosse.
While the gold-glimmering dome is certainly impressive, the Église du Dôme is more known
for its inside and what it stores.
The dome is not so much used as a religious chapel; it is rather used as a military mausoleum.
The dome provides the final rest for several well noted French military leaders, the most
famous one being Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
After his defeat in the battle of Waterloo, the new French ruler Louis XVIII, who by the
way had been installed by the victorious Coalition forces, had Napoleon exiled to the British
island of Sankt Helena outside West Africa.
The island became Napoleon's home until his death in 1821.
Later, under the rule of King Louis-Philippe, Napoleon was brought back to France after
seven years of negotiations with the British Government.
His remains were brought to Les Invalides in which his tomb was placed in the center
of the dome in year 1861, where it still stands today.
As you will see, the massive tomb of Napoleon is made of some brownish red material.
This material is called Russian red porphyry and the base of the tomb is made of green
granite from the Vosges.
If you take a closer look you will see inscriptions around the tomb.
These inscriptions are all the location of some of Napoleons larger victories, for example
the battle of the Pyramids in 1798 and the battle of Friedland in 1807.
Surrounding the tomb is several white marble statues, all looking at the tomb in homage
and gratitude for their great leader.
If you go down in the circular gallery surrounding the tomb, you will see friezes in the wall
which often depicts Napoleon, sitting on his throne as the supreme emperor.
While the dome area is often rather full of visitors, there is a certain aura of calmness
and respect surrounding Napoleon and his tomb.
The tomb of napoleon is of course the center piece in the dome area, but the dome also
houses several other tombs.
In one of the side rooms, you can see the tomb of Ferdinand Foch - the French military
leader during World War One, carried by his soldiers.
You can also find the tombs of Jospeh and Jérôme Bonapartre, Napoleons two brothers.
The Église du Dôme also holds the heart of Vauban.
Vauban was the best military engineer of his age.
During the French Revolution, the remains of Vauban was scattered, but his heart was
found and brought to rest in this very place.
You can also see the tomb of Turenne, a Marshal General of France who lived during the 17th
century, and who served as a military role model for Napoleon himself.
These people are just a few of all the French military leaders who rest in the Les Invalides.