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History
In 1670, founded a hospital for his invalid soldiers, the King Louis XIV adopted plans by Liberal Bruant and the work started in 1671 and was finished in 1676. This hospital could house up to 4000 patients.
Design
The principal facade, which stretches on both sides of the immense semicircular-arched doorway, whose pilasters lie on statues of Mars and Minerva, Warring Valour and Armed Wisdom, by Guillaume Coustou. On the pediment there is a statue of Louis XIV on horseback, by the same Coustou; a story with three large bay windows surmounts the main entrance. All of these openings are in the form of semicircular arches. The entrance is flanked by two doors under bulls'-eyes. The arch of the pediment, the tops of windows, and the bulls'-eyes are adorned with garlands and cable moulding. The sober blocks of buildings are given rhythm by the openings, the higher ones smaller than the lower; arched bays on the ground floor and rectangular bays on the three higher floors. A cornice emphasizes the third, and gable windows adorned with sculpted weapons border the roof. Two pavilions frame the facade. In front of it lies a garden enclosed by ramparts a la Vauban, lined with 17th and 18th century cannon. Created by Robert de Cotte between 1704 and 1720, beyond the garden extends the immense esplanade.
"The Invalides"
Beneath the dome lies two churches : One for the soldiers, and the other intended as a mausoleum for the king but now containing the mortal remains of Napoleon. The Esplanade leads from the Quai d'Orsay through a formal garden to the the majestic facade of Les Invalides. In an arch above the large central portal is an eques- trian portrait of the Sun King supported by Prudence and Justice. Behind this is the splendid cour d'honneur which now houses the Army Museum in its north-west wing. Today, Les Invalides is a museum, monument and is used for military purposes.
Address
Avenue de Tourville, Paris 7e
Tel : 01 44 42 54 52
How to get there
Metro line 8 : Latour-Maubourg,
RER C : Invalides
Buses : 32, 63, 93
Opening times
October to March : 10am to 5pm
April to September : 10am to 6pm