Visiting Napolean’s Tomb and Musee D’Army in Paris
If you are considering a trip to Paris, there are a plethora of things to see and do in the vibrant
city of lights and love. France's capital is a major European metropolis with an abundance of
green beauty, but is also teeming with unique tourist attractions and historical landmarks.
Paris is also a global hub for delectable cuisine, a thriving art scene, and a booming fashion
industry. A visit to the city is an invitation to immerse yourself in all things beautiful.
Without question Paris is most famous for the Eiffel Tower, which is the city's most famous
landmark. If top landmarks are your game, you can also stroll down the Champs-Elysees
and take in the grandeur of the avenue or spend the day visiting the Louvre.
Of the lesser well known attractions among tourists are the Musée de l'Armée
and Napoleon's Tomb. These are two
outstanding attractions that should not be missed while touring the French capital.
A tour at Napoleon's Tomb
The Tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte, is located in the center of Paris, in the breathtaking
Dôme des Invalides, perhaps the most stunning retirement home for old soldiers ever built.
Formerly known as Hôtel des Invalides it is most well known as just Les Invalides or The Invalids.
It was founded in 1670 on the orders of the Sun King Louis the XIV,
as the first institution of its kind in Europe. This intricately beautiful structure is a
sprawling complex of 17th-century buildings and courtyards, and certainly one way for a nation
to thank its soldiers. To find Napoleon's tomb, you’ll need to find Invalides Chapel,
constructed by Jules-Hardouin Mansart at the end of the 17th century.
Napoleon Bonaparte is perhaps France’s most notable political and military leader, rising
to fame during the bloody French Revolution. A man who desired to bring pride to the French
commoner and science and reason to the world, Napoleon was and is seen as a national hero.
After his death, it was decided to entomb him in beautifully sculpted red porphyry.
The fascinating background of Napoleon's Tomb
Napoleon was a soldier’s general and loved by his troops. A lot of his success as a military
leader was down to the fact that Napoleon loved his men. During the years 1808 to 1815,
Napoleon paid several visits to the Hôtel des Invalides. Following Napoleon's defeat at Waterloo
and abdication in 1815, the Hôtel des Invalides would see a huge rise in occupants. According
to records almost 5,000 survivors of the Great Army would be housed here by the end of 1815.
Approximately twenty years after Napoleon's death, his body was returned from the British
island territory of Saint Helena in 1841, where the former emperor had lived under
guard in exile to ensure that he would never vie for world domination again.
Saint-Jérôme Chapel served as his final resting place.
The mausoleum of Napoleon Bonaparte, designed by the renowned sculptor Louis Visconti,
contains the Emperor's remains, placed in five unique urns, which in turn were sealed in a tomb,
a fascinatingly carved block of red porphyry; a kind of igneous rock. Napoleon's two brothers
would also be laid to rest in this crypt. How to go to Napoleon's Tomb
The Tomb of Napoleon is easily accessible and a short distance from the city centre,
just a 20-minute walk from the Eiffel Tower. As an alternative to walking to the mausoleum,
you can take a bus to the nearby Invalides station.
It’s best to visit Napoleon’s Tomb in the morning to avoid the crowds. The mausoleum's
busiest hours are in the afternoon when the majority of tourists arrive.
What to see on your visit to Napoleon's Tomb
When visiting the tomb, you'll have the opportunity to see not only Napoleon's Tomb but
also the astonishing dome that houses it, dotted with marble and other beautiful rock furnishings.
The chapel is decorated with stunning statues and columns, a monumental stairway,
and a massive mosaic, all commemorating Napoleon's most celebrated military victories.
The crypt is studded with various gorgeous displays that make paying
homage to Napoleon quite a grand experience.
As well as seeing the tomb and exquisite furnishings that surround it, you’ll also be
given an in-depth insight into some of Paris' most famous landmarks throughout your visit.
Napoleon Bonaparte and his historical significance to France today will also
be covered in the course of your tour. Once you’ve admired this monument,
there are museums and a cafeteria on the grounds where you can relax after touring the site.
Musée de l'Armée
The Musée de l'Armée, or Army Museum in English, is one of Paris's most popular places to visit.
It is connected to the Les Invalides and Napoleon's Tomb,
making visiting all three of these historic monuments a breeze.
It was established in 1905, immediately following the Worlds Fair, and is the
consequence of the amalgamation of the Museum of Artillery, and the Museum of Arts Sciences.
A component of the beautiful and ancient Les Invalides,
the Cathédrale de Saint-Louis-des-Invalides is also connected to this terrific museum.
Exhibits are spread across 8000 square metres floor
space of the Army Museum, making it the largest military history museum in France.
It is rightfully recognized to be one of the most important military museums in the world,
and includes over 500,000 artifacts from the Middle Ages to the present day,
all concerned with the business of warfare.
How to reach Musée de l'Armée
The Musée de l'Armée, like the Napoleonic Tomb, is easily accessible from the city center. Walking,
biking, or taking a cab to Les Invalides are all options for getting to the Army Museum. Several
bus routes pass by the museum, the most convenient stop being Invalides station.
The significant collections of the museum
The Army Museum is home to a plethora of interesting exhibits and displays, and is a
must for any military buff. It has a large number of artifacts related to French military history,
such as insignia, uniforms, paintings, portraits, documents, and gaudy military decorations,
and no small amount of arms and armour. To access the museum, you need to buy a pass,
which will also grant access to other museums around the city.
You can take a detour via the Museum of the Order of Liberation, or the Museum of Relief Maps.
The permanent collections of the Army Museum are exhibited in sequence,
in which the historical military artifacts are represented through different historical periods.
These exhibits span from medieval warfare to collections gathered from the World Wars,
to displays including modern military equipment.
Another must-see attraction you can visit with your pass to the Army Museum,
is a courtyard with cannon exhibitions and armor and weapons from the 13th and 17th
centuries. The cannon are particularly impressive, artillery being a favorite tool of Napoleon.
Aside from the Eiffel Tower, or Notre Dame, Napoleon's tomb and the Army Museum are two
fascinating tourist attractions that should definitely be included in your Paris itinerary.
When you visit these two gems, you will not only get to admire the beauty of the
complex’s incredible architecture, but you will also get to dive into France’s history.
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