Les Invalides

Les Invalides

Napoleon I on his Imperial Throne

This is the Les Invalides, a building complex that contains museums, monuments and a hospital. The building is also well-known for its military purposes, as it is a burial site for French soldiers. The construction of the Les Invalides started in 1671 and was completed in 1678 by architects, Liberal Bruant and Jules Hardouin Mansart. Since it is mainly a hospital, the main purpose of the building was to house wounded soldiers during the 1600s. Due to the Les Invalides being a complex, the building contains a museum called the Musee de l'Armee, which contains many forms of art, such as expressionism, surrealism, and futurism. In fact, a famous painting housed at the museum is the Napoleon I on his Imperial Throne, which was painted by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. 

Unusual Facts:

1. Although not much is known about the Les Invalides measurements, the building's dome measures 107 m (351 ft) in height. 
2. The Les Invalides contains three museums in total: the Musee de l'Armee, Musee de l'Ordre de la Liberation, and the Musee des Plans-Reliefs.
3. Napoleon Bonaparte, one of French's famous war heroes, is buried at the Les Invalides, as well as some of his other family members. 

   

   Napoleon Bonaparte's tomb at the Les Invalides