Mansard's original plan for Les Invalides (about 1700)
Louis XIV initiated the project by an order dated 24 November 1670 to create a home and hospital for aged and disabled (invalide) soldiers, the veterans of his many military campaigns.[3] The initial architect ofLes Invalides wasLibéral Bruant. The selected site was in the then suburban plain of Grenelle (plaine de Grenelle). By the time the enlarged project was completed in 1676, the façade fronting theSeine measured 196 metres (643 ft) in width, and the complex had fifteen courtyards, the largest being thecour d'honneur designed for military parades. The church-and-chapel complex of the Invalides was designed byJules Hardouin-Mansart in 1676, taking inspiration from his great-uncleFrançois Mansart's design for aChapelle des Bourbons [fr] to be built behind the chancel of theBasilica of Saint-Denis, the French monarch's necropolis since ancient times. Several projects were submitted in the mid-1660s by both Mansart andGian Lorenzo Bernini, who was residing in Paris at the time. Mansart's second project is very close to Hardouin-Mansart's concept of the Royal Chapel or Dome Church atLes Invalides, both in terms of its architecture and of its relationship with the adjacent church. Architectural historianAllan Braham has hypothesized that the domed chapel was initially intended to be a new burial place for the Bourbon Dynasty, but that project was not implemented.[4] Instead, the massive building was designated as the private chapel of the monarch, which was attached to the Cathedral attended by the veterans. The Dôme des Invalides remains as one of the prime exemplars ofFrench Baroque architecture, at 107 metres (351 ft) high, and also as an iconic symbol of France'sabsolute monarchy.
Meanwhile, Hardouin-Mansart assisted the aged Bruant with theCathedral of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, Paris, which was finished to Bruant's design after the latter died in 1697. Daily attendance of the veterans in the church services was required. Shortly after the veterans' chapel was started, Louis XIV commissioned Mansart to construct a separate private royal chapel, now named its most striking feature. The Dome chapel was finished in 1706.
Louis XIV views the plans ofLes Invalides
Visit of Louis XIV toLes Invalides (about 1706). Painting byPierre-Denis Martin
Because of its location and significance, the Invalides served as the scene for several key events in French history. On 14 July 1789, it was stormed by Parisian rioters who seized the cannons and muskets stored in its cellars to use against theBastille later the same day. Napoleon was entombed under the Dome of the Invalides with a grand ceremony in 1840. The separation between the two churches was reinforced in the 19th century with the erection ofNapoleon's tomb, the creation of the two separate altars, and the construction of a glass wall between the two chapels.
The building retained its primary function as a retirement home and hospital for military veterans (invalides) until the early twentieth century. In 1872, the musée d'artillerie (Artillery Museum) was located within the building to be joined by the musée historique des armées (Historical Museum of the Armies) in 1896. The two institutions were merged to form the present musée de l'armée in 1905. At the same time, the veterans in residence were dispersed to smaller centres outside Paris. The reason was that adopting a mainly conscript army after 1872 meant a substantial reduction in the number of veterans having the twenty or more years of military service formerly required to enter the Hôpital des Invalides. The building accordingly became too large for its original purpose. The modern complex does, however, still include the facilities detailed below for about a hundred elderly or incapacitated former soldiers.
When the Army Museum atLes Invalides was founded in 1905, the veterans' chapel was placed under its administrative control. It is now the cathedral of theDiocese of the French Armed Forces, officially known as Cathédrale Saint-Louis-des-Invalides.[6]
Men's Individual Archery at the Les Invalides venue.
The Esplanade des Invalides, the expansive green space in front of the historic Hôtel des Invalides, was a key venue for multiple sports during theParis 2024 Summer Olympics. It hosted archery, para-archery, road cycling, and marathon events, with the Invalides buildings providing a unique backdrop for athletes to compete.[7]
The north front of the Invalides: Hardouin-Mansart's Dome, behind it, stands above Bruant's pedimented central block
The portal is guarded by a statue of the GoddessMinerva
The north portal, depicting Louis XIV on horseback
Statue of Mars, the Roman god of war, by the north portal
Hardouin-Mansart's Dome chapel is large enough to dominate the long façade yet harmonizes with Bruant's door under an arched pediment on the north front of Les Invalides. To the north, the courtyard (cour d'honneur) is extended by a wide public esplanade (Esplanade des Invalides) where the embassies of Austria and Finland are neighbors of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all forming one of the grand open spaces in the heart of Paris. At its far end, thePont Alexandre III links this grand urbanistic axis with thePetit Palais and theGrand Palais. ThePont des Invalides is next, downstream the Seine river.
The Dome is the tallest and most famous of the buildings of Les Invalides. Designed byJules Hardouin-Mansart, it takes the form of a Greek cross, on a square plan. Each of the facades is composed of two orders superimposed. The porch is topped by triangular fronton. It is crowned by a dome 90 metres, high, surmounted by lantern bringing the height to 107 metres (351 feet), making it taller thanNotre Dame de Paris and the tallest of all Paris church domes.[8]
The dome is actually composed of two domes superimposed. The lower dome is largely open at the base, allowed the visitors below to see the art painted on the dome above byCharles de La Fosse. The windows are masked by the lower dome, which permits natural lighting and gives the impression that viewers are actually seeing the sky, a popular Baroque affect.[8]
The interior of the dome is divided into two separate churches; beneath the dome is the chapel that was used, on rare occasions, by the royal family. Attached to the dome is a separate church, theCathedral of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, Paris, which was used by the veterans who lived at Les Invalides. They were required to attend daily services in the church.
The painting inside the dome by Charles de la Fosse depicts Saint Louis presenting his sword to Christ and the angels. In the centre of the composition, God and the Virgin are surrounded by angel musicians. Saint Louis carries the symbols of royalty; a crown, a garden with flour-des-lys emblems, and a royal mantle. To the right of Christ are placed the symbols of the passion and the suffering of Christ; the cross, nails, a lance, and the crown of thorns.[8]
Charles de la Fosse (1636-1716), a student ofLe Brun, was one of the leading painters of the Academy, whose work is also found in thePalace of Versailles. Jules Hardouin Mansard, in charge of all the decoration of the dome, asked La Fosse to decorate the cupola and the pendentives with paintings of the four Evangelists. In the same period, he decorated the salons of Diane and Apollo at thePalace of Versailles.
The Tomb of Napoleon is found within the Church of the Dome. It was created after his remains were returned to France from Saint Helena in 1840. It was prepared by King Louis Philippe I and his Prime Minister,Adolphe Thiers, but it was not completed and inaugurated until1861. The chief architect wasLouis Visconti, who died before the tomb was completed. The sarcophagus made of purplequartzite, on a base of green granite, is placed in an open crypt, The crypt is surrounded by a circular gallery supported by twelve pillars, with relief panel and sculpture celebrating Napoleon's accomplishments, represented by figures of Atlantes. (See alsoNapoleon's tomb)
The window behind the altar looks into chapel of the dome
Nave with enemy flags captured by French Army
Organ with case designed by Hardouin-Mansart
In 1957, the position of vicar was created to oversee the spiritual education of the army. In 1986 a position of the Bishop of the armies was established and placed at the church, which gave the church the title of cathedral.[9]
The church is located directly behind the Dome des Invalides. It was originally the church that was used by the army veterans who lived at Les Invalides. They were required to attend daily services in the cathedral. In the original church, the dome, where the royal family worshipped, served as the choir, while the present cathedral was the nave for the veterans.
One unusual feature of the church is the display of captured enemy flags taken over the years by the French Army.[9]
The cathedral has a particularly fine organ, made between 1679 and 1687, with a vert elaborate case with sculpture designed by architectJules Hardouin-Mansart.
Courtyard of Honour, with the Dome behind it. The Army Museum is on the left.
President Macron welcomes President Trump to Les Invalides (July 17, 2017)
Entrance to the Army Museum on the Courtyard of Honour
Statue of Napoleon overlooking the courtyard
Cannons on display in the courtyard
The organ of the cathedral is particularly notable. It was made by the organ-builder of the King, Alexandre Thierry, between 1679 and 1687, and has undergone several restorations. The elaborate buffet with sculpture was made in 1683. It was specially designed for the church by the architect,Jules Hardouin-Mansart.
An Aubusson bombardment mortar, the largest in the world
The Army Museum (Musée de l'Armée) was created in 1905 with the merger of the Musée d'Artillerie and the Musée Historique de l'Armée. The museum's seven main spaces and departments contain collections that display military equipment span the from the Middle antiquity through the 20th century.[10]
TheMusee des Plans-Reliefs displays a collection of military models. It was begun in 1668 the Minister of War of Louis XIV ordered that three-dimensional models be made of fortified cities and strategic places in France. The models were originally held in the Louvre. The collection was enlarged through the 18th centuries, and some models of German fortifications were added. The total collection made between 1668 and 1870 has about 150 models. The museum currently displays some twenty-eight models, depicting fortified cities of the French coast.
Office national des anciens combattants et victimes de guerre
1. Cour d'honneur
2. Cour d'Angoulème
3. Cour d'Austerlitz
4. Cour de la Victoire
5. Cour de la Valeur
6. Cour de Mars
7. Cour de Toulon
8. Cour de Nismes
9. Cour de Metz
10. Cour de l'Infirmerie
11. Cour d'Oran
12. Cour de la Paix
13. Cour d'Arles
14. Cour d'Alger
15. Cour Saint-Louis
16. Cour Saint-Joseph
17. Cour Saint-Jacques
Hardouin-Mansart's Dome chapel is large enough to dominate the long façade yet harmonizes with Bruant's door under an arched pediment on the north front of Les Invalides. To the north, the courtyard (cour d'honneur) is extended by a wide public esplanade (Esplanade des Invalides) where the embassies of Austria and Finland are neighbors of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all forming one of the grand open spaces in the heart of Paris. At its far end, thePont Alexandre III links this grand urbanistic axis with thePetit Palais and theGrand Palais. ThePont des Invalides is next, downstream the Seine river.
The buildings still comprise the Institution Nationale des Invalides,[11] a national institution fordisabledwar veterans. The institution comprises:
The sarcophagus of Napoleon BonaparteTomb of Napoleon II at Les Invalides, Paris
The Dome chapel became a military necropolis whenNapoleon in September 1800 designated it for the relocation of the tomb of Louis XIV's celebrated generalTurenne, followed in 1807–1808 byVauban.[2] In 1835, the underground gallery below the church received the remains of 14 victims of theGiuseppe Marco Fieschi's failed assassination attempt onLouis-Philippe I. The significant development came with the building's designation to becomeNapoleon's tomb by a law of 10 June 1840, as part of the political project of theretour des cendres orchestrated by kingLouis-Philippe I and his ministerAdolphe Thiers (the reference to Napoleon'scendres or "ashes" is actually to his mortal remains, as he had not been cremated).[12] The creation of the crypt and of Napoleon's massive sarcophagus took twenty years to complete and was finished in 1861.[13][14] By then, it was emperorNapoleon III who was in power and oversaw the ceremony of the transfer of the remains of his uncle from a chapel of the church to the crypt beneath the dome.[15]
1847:Henri Gatien Bertrand (1773–1844), an army general who accompanied Napoleon to Elba and then St Helena, and in 1840 brought Napoleon's body back to France; monument designed byLouis Visconti
1940:Napoleon II (1811–1832) son of Napoleon (his heart and intestines remained in Vienna); first placed in the church's Saint Jerome Chapel, then buried in the crypt in 1969
1858: heart ofCatharina of Württemberg (1783–1835), wife of Jérôme Bonaparte, and their sonJérôme Napoléon Charles Bonaparte, in the underground gallery; the monument of Catharina's heart was relocated in 1862 in the Saint Jerome Chapel
82 additional military figures, including 28Governors of Les Invalides, are buried in theCaveau des Gouverneurs, an underground gallery beneath the Cathédrale Saint-Louis-des-Invalides:[16]
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