Invalides

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Discover the Invalides district - Paris 07

Invalides is the 26th administrative district of Paris. It is located in the 7th arrondissement and covers an area of 107.4 ha.

The Invalides neighbourhood has 6,036 inhabitants. This district borders the Seine to the north. To the west, Boulevard de la Tour Maubourg separates it from the Gros Caillou neighbourhood. To the south, it is bounded by Avenue de Tourville, Boulevard des Invalides and Rue de Babylone. To the East, it is separated from the Saint-Thomas d’Aquin neighbourhood by Rue Vanneau and Rue de Bellechasse.

History

The Invalides neighbourhood’s history dates back to 1674, when King Louis XIV signed a permanent and final royal edict. This edict was based on the hotel construction at the end of Faubourg Saint-Germain. It was intended to house and look after disabled officers and soldiers who were crippled in battle and were formerly assigned to Château de Bicêtre.

The famous part of the Faubourg Saint-Germain that King Louis XIV spoke of was a simple plain which was particularly clean at that time. Once the construction was completed, the Hôtel des Invalides was a credit to the architect Libéral Bruant who built it. In addition to the Hôtel, a church bearing the name of Saint-Louis-des invalides was constructed in the buildings. This building is characterised by its exceptional facade. Vaults are decorated with paintings by Lafosse and Jouvenet, walls are arranged in the shape of a Greek cross and they are adorned with a pictorial decoration by Doyen and Boullogne. It is in the same enclosure that Napoleon I’s tomb and the musée de l’armée (army museum) are located.

Cultural sites

Palais-Bourbon has been home to the National Assembly since 1798. Located at Quai d’Orsay, 126 rue de l’Université, it was built in 1726 for Louis XIV’s daughter, Louise-Françoise and Mme de Montespan, widow of the Duke of Bourbon.
Tombeau de Napoléon (Napoleon’s Tomb)
Saint-Louis des Invalides Church has the most beautiful dome in France. On the golden dome stands a lantern which culminates at 107m and was redecorated in 1989. This building is made up of two churches including Église des Soldats and Église du Dôme, which are separated by glassworks. Today, the Église des Soldats has become the armies’ Cathedral.
Musée des Plans-reliefs: this museum preserves a unique collection in the world that includes historical models of the fortified towns and the surrounding countryside. The models were made between the reigns of Louis XIV and Napoleon III.
Musée d’Ordre de la Libération, at Place Vauban, has three galleries and six rooms devoted solely to the Compagnons de la Libération (Companions of the Liberation). General de Gaulle’s manuscripts and concentration camps history are also kept in this museum.
Musée Rodin, located at 77 Rue de Varenne, in the hôtel Biron. It houses the museum’s permanent collections and can be visited every Wednesday until 8.45 pm. Its French garden is embellished with a lot of plants, trees and shrubs and decorated with beautiful sculptures.
Hôtel National des Invalides: located at 129 rue des Grelle, it houses Napoleon’s tomb, the weapons department, antique armor and armor from the two world wars.
Saint Louis des Invalides Cathedral, in the centre of Hôtel des Invalides.