PARIS, France — The golden dome of Les Invalides gleams in the sunlight, dominating the Parisian skyline. The expansive Baroque-style complex, home to Napoleon's tomb and military museums, stands as a testament to French history and architecture.
Photograph by David Coleman. Les Invalides, officially known as L'Hôtel national des Invalides (The National Residence of the Invalids), is a monumental complex of buildings in the 7th arrondissement of Paris. This iconic landmark, with its distinctive golden dome, stands as a testament to French military history and architectural grandeur. Commissioned by Louis XIV in 1670, Les Invalides was originally built as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans. The initial design was conceived by Libéral Bruant, while the chapel, including the famous dome, was later added by Jules Hardouin-Mansart. The dome, completed in 1708, is considered one of the triumphs of French Baroque architecture and stands 107 meters (351 feet) high. The complex spans 13 hectares (32 acres) and comprises several courtyards, buildings, and gardens. Today, it houses multiple museums and monuments, all related to France's military history. The most notable of these is the Musée de l'Armée (Army Museum), which contains one of the world's largest collections of military artifacts, spanning from antiquity to the 20th century. Perhaps the most famous feature of Les Invalides is Napoleon Bonaparte's tomb, located under the golden dome. The emperor's remains were returned from Saint Helena in 1840 and interred here in 1861. The tomb, made of red quartzite and placed on a green granite base, is surrounded by 12 colossal statues representing Napoleon's victories. Les Invalides also contains the tombs of other military heroes, including Napoleon's brothers Joseph and Jérôme Bonaparte, his son (known as Napoleon II), Marshals Foch and Lyautey, and the heart of Vauban, Louis XIV's military engineer. The complex includes two churches: the Église Saint-Louis des Invalides, the soldiers' church, and the Église du Dôme, the royal chapel. The latter is a fine example of French Baroque architecture and is now primarily used for military ceremonies. In addition to its historical and architectural significance
Size: 5026px × 3338px
Location: École Militaire, Paris, Île-de-France, France
Photo credit: © David Coleman | Have Camera Will Travel / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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