Hôtel National des Invalides – Napoleon’s Tomb

An important symbol of France’s historic and artistic heritage, the complex of Les Invalides encompasses a military hospital, museums and monuments, and the church that houses Napoleon’s tomb.

Site History

The Hôtel National des Invalides, a vast complex of buildings in the heart of Paris, was created by Louis XIV to serve as the first veterans’ retirement home and hospital in Europe. Today, along with those functions, it contains museums and monuments related to the military history of France. The complex is also home to the Dôme des Invalides, the tallest church in Paris, which contains the tombs of some of France’s most celebrated war heroes, most notably Napoleon. 

Designed by architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart and famous for its gilded dome, the Dôme is an exemplar of French classical architecture. It has fulfilled a range of functions since it opened in 1706. During the reign of Louis XIV, it was the venue for the royal mass; it became the temple of Mars during the French Revolution and a refuge for Allied pilots in World War II. In 1840, Louis Philippe I had Napoleon Bonaparte’s remains transferred from Saint Helena to Les Invalides. A large area was excavated in the center of the Dôme, and Napoleon’s remains were placed there in 1861. 

About the Project

May 5, 2021, marks the bicentenary of Napoleon’s death. To celebrate the occasion, the Musée de l’Armée and the Fondation Napoléon have joined forces in an international appeal to help restore, at the Hôtel National des Invalides, the monuments associated with the Emperor and his brothers Joseph, King of Naples and later of Spain, and Jérôme, King of Westphalia and Governor of Les Invalides. The most prominent restoration work concerns Napoleon’s tomb, including its mosaic floor and marble bas-reliefs. 

The restoration and refurbishment of these monuments are part of a larger “Napoleon Season,” which includes a major exhibition, concerts, talks and many other events throughout 2021. All of these activities are open to the public and will be a major focus of the cultural life of Paris during the bicentenary. 

Les Invalides Today

The Hôtel National des Invalides retains its original function as a hospital and hospice for badly injured and disabled war veterans. In addition to the military hospital and the Dôme, it houses the Musée de l’Armée, the military museum of the Army of France; the Musée des plans-reliefs; the Musée d’histoire contemporaine; and the Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération. The site receives more than 1.2 million visitors a year.