June 08, 2007

Les Invalides

Walking over the Pont Alexandre III (yesterday’s post), I continued my “tourist tour” of Paris, and decided to visit Les Invalides, just in front of the bridge (or just behind, depending on your direction). I imagine that if you have been to Paris, you have been there, but I must admit that, even after 33 years in Paris, I never went into the building, so it was about time!


The Invalides were built under Louis XIV as a home for aged and unwell soldiers – space for 4000 of them. The full name is of course l’Hôpital des Invalides (no translation needed). The hospital was finished in 1676, immediately completed by a chapel, known as Eglise Saint-Louis des Invalides. The Royal Chapel and the dome were added in 1708 (Louis XIV was still there; he reigned from 1643 to 1715, some 72 years, of course in the beginning helped by Mazarin, his mother, Anne of Austria, and some others.) Several architects were involved, but a major role for the church and the dome was played by Jules Hardouin-Mansart , who also left other traces in history (Versailles, Place Vendôme etc…). He was the nephew of François Mansart, another famous architect.

Under the dome, you will since 1861 find the tomb of Napoleon (designed by Visconti, made of Finnish wood). Napoleon was brought here from Saint Helena already in 1840, but it took some time to prepare his final place of rest. There are also some souvenirs of Napoleon to be seen and some of his family members and other prominent personalities are also buried here.

At the Invalides, you can also find an army museum. In my patchwork you can find a canon and also see how François I (1494-1547) was dressed when he was making wars.
You can find the originals of the photos in the above patchwork on my other blog (Peter - photos).

30 comments:

Keshi said...

Ur so lucky to live in such an awesome place!

Keshi.

Shionge said...

Yes I did Peter and next time when I visit Paris I'm going to capture the shots just like you :)

Shammickite said...

When I was in Paris, my sons went into Les Invalides but I sat in the park across the road and waited for them. I had walked many miles around Paris that day, and my feet hurt. They said Napoleon's Tomb was one of the highlights of their trip. I'll visit next time!
Beautiful pictures. Paris is such a winderful city.

Olivier said...

c'est amusant enfant, c'etait un de mes musées preferait (a cause du tombeau de Napoleon) ;o). c'est un beau musée. je te souhaite un bon weekend à te promener dans Paris

lyliane six said...

Endroit que j'ai visité au moins 5 fois, mais en 35 ans.Malheureusement beaucoup de salles sont fermées pour travaux jusqu'en 2009.Pour redorer le dôme en 1989, il a fallu 12 kg d'or!!

Napoléon est considéré à l'étranger comme un guerrier, mais il a fait énormément de belles et grandes choses en Europe, c'était un grand bâtisseur, et un créateur de nombreuses lois françaises.

J'ai habité pendant 20 ans RUEIL MALMAISON. Cette ville a beaucoup plu à l'empereur (et à moi aussi), car il y a acheté un château ( mais pas moi!), et je vous en parlerai sûrement dans mon blog.

Cergie said...

Que de très belles photos et des détails ainsi qu'un texte instructifs
Les invalides sont aussi la base de l'orchestre de la Garde Républicaine (le professeur de tuba de mon fils aîné est tuba à la Garde)
J'ai visité le musée de l'armée et y ai retrouvé l'uniforme que portait mon grand'père en 14-18, je veux dire un uniforme semblable
Mon fils a habité six mois avenue de Breteuil derrière les Invalides, en colocation. Avant de déménager à la petite athènes comme je te l'ai déjà dit.
Le dôme éclairé la nuit que l'on découvrait en sortant de chez lui, c'était qualque chose de breathtaking comme on dit !

alice said...

J'avoue que je ne connais pas l'intérieur moi non plus...Grâce à toi, j'ai un bon aperçu! A chaque fois que je me trouve dans ce (beau) quartier, je ne résiste pas à un petit tour dans les jardins du musée Rodin mais je suppose que tu les connais.

Cergie said...

Oh ! Mais j'ai lu et ADORE bien sûr "le fils du consul" de Bodard
Je ne sais si c'est dans ce livre ou dans "Anne Marie" que j'ai lu comme les chinois savaient supplicier en les découpant en lanières tout en sachant les garder en vie les émissaires malheureux des gens honnis
J'ai lu aussi comment les bambous poussent très vite et transpercent les personnes qu'on attache dessus
Très intéressant en effet...

PS : ma maman savait découper le poulet en contournant les articulations, c'était fou !


AHAHAH ! Bonne journée Peter !
Et bon week end...

di.di said...

Paris look amazing through your lens. You have woderful eyes.

Anonymous said...

Your city is filled with history and much of it we never get to see. In contrast, my city is small and does not have such beauty or history. Your photography is marvelous.

Abraham Lincoln
My Post: Local woman dies in house fire
Brookville Daily Photo

Olivier said...

On ne peut pas polimiquer tous les jours ;o) sinon fan de LV88, mais je crois qu'ils ont splittés (rien depuis 2001). Surprenant que tu connaisses, c'est pas un groupe qui a fait une grande carriere ;o)

Peter said...

keshi:
Yes, Im' lucky (but there are so many nice palces around the world).

shionge:
Next time you visit Paris, you already promised that we must meet. Don't take any photos by yourself, without contacting me!

ex-shammickite:
Yes, you need good shoes when you waml around like that! Next time in Paris, don't forget me!

olivier:
Il semble qu'avant on pouvait voir une belle collection de drapeaux. Plus maintenant!

lyliane:
Merci pour tous ces rensignements supplémntaires!

Oui, Napoléon n'a pas seulement fait des ravage dans les pays voisins, il a aussi fait beaucoup du bien! De tout façon, sans doute un homme rémarquable!

C'est bien si tu parles de Rueil-Malmaison et son bon château. Moi, je me concentre sur Paris pour le moment!

cergie:
Paris la nuit! C'est aussi quelque chose, mais je suis mal équipé pour des belles photos de nuit. Faudrait que j'achète un "pied" (et un autre appareil de photo).

alice:
Le musée Rodin, ça fait longtemps que je n'ai pas visité. Une bonne idée, merci!

cergie (bis):
Je n'ai pas lu "Anne Marie". Il faudrait que je l'achète. De toute façon, on découpe bien aussi dans le "fils".

Le poulet de ta mère, ça a du être quelque chose!

drama div@:
Thanks! (I wear glasses.)

abraham:
I beleive that you have proved that nice photos has nothing to do with the size of the place, but of course it makes it easier for me.

olivier (bis):
Je n'étais sans doute pas un fan, mais aved des enfants autour, il faut essayer de se tenir au courant. (Ils sont maintenant partis; donc je me tiens sans doute moins au courant - en attendant les goûts musicaux des petits-enfants.)

Chuckeroon said...

....tks for the expose and series on les Inv; much enjoyed as usual. I have studied Napoleon a fair bit, and have to conclude that he was a bit of a bad boy. Regime change where not invited, spreading democracy French style where not required, dominating and imperialistic behaviour, and so on......not quite PC in 2007. On the other hand the so called "war party" in England would not leave him alone. Who was right?

However, we don't have to concern ourselves with any of that old style stuff - we are modern! Greetings, as always ;-)

Chuckeroon said...

P.S. I've left a comment to you on de-industrialisation over on R u T.

Peter said...

chuckeroon:
It's clear that Joan of Arc and Napoleon are considered a bit differently by the French than by the British (thanks for letting the Eurostar from Paris arrive at Waterloo - at least until further) and it's also clear that especially Napoleons wish to conquer most of Europe was not always well seen (understatement). However, he was obviously quite clearsighted and modern for his time and the number of things that were created during his short "reign", still in use, is quite incredible.

Anonymous said...

On parle d'invalides, de lanières, de chinois, de paris, c'est difficile à suivre. :-)

Anonymous said...

This was one of my favorite places when I finally went there, especially since it's so close to the musee Rodin, so seeing both in the same day is a nice excursion. Isn't Napolean's casket actually like 7 caskets, one inside the other? What a beautiful place there that you have shown so well in your photos. It's such a landmark too, that you can see from anywhere in the city almost.

For someone who doesn't like war or fighting, I really liked the canons! Go figure.

Ash said...

I love how you have framed the first one....awesome!!

Peter said...

delphinium:
Dure, dure la vie du bloggeur! Je suis sur que tu arrives!

ruth:
I did not know about the caskets. Thanks!

ash:
Thanks for the compliment, especially coming from such a good "framer" as you!

Chuckeroon said...

Peter....I quite agree with your positive points ref. "Napy B." He's a seriously controversial figure because of these things. It's a bit different but imagine it's 1.00 a.m. with a good brandy and a cigar and comfortable club chair and a few good mates and start substituting Bush for Napoleon. (I will now leave you - absolutely! Good night ;-))

Peter said...

chukeroon:
Thanks for you interesting comments and... Good Night!

isa said...

I apologize in advance if this sounds like bragging, but our bedroom in the 7th overlooked the golden dôme!
Each night, before falling asleep, I bid the Emperor bonne nuit! ;-)

Anonymous said...

Good post as usual Peter, but two things I single out. The main image is excellent, and for some reason I find the detail that the tomb was built of Finnish wood extraordinarily fascinating - still haven't figured out why. NB I posted a reply to your comment on Chuckeroons site about Seine barges, and a link to a Willy Ronis photo that shows barges from a past world and time

Peter said...

isabella:
Bragging perhaps not, as you just tell the truth, however you obviously lived in a nice area with anice view!

richard:
Thed detail about Finnish wood was a small "extra" to some special Finnish friends and ex colleagues. I know that they check my blog now and then even if they are not always commenting.

Peter said...

richard:
... and thanks for the Willy Ronis hint. After the Seine barge, I had a more complete look on his works (thanks also to Google)!

Kunterbunt said...

It's so wonderful to see all this again. You show us a lot of details. I remember it was a hot day llike today when we went in there and it was pretty cool. And the golden cupola is always a landmark when you look over Paris.

Anonymous said...

Finnish wood ? I have been looking at this tomb, but I don`t remember about this origin of a materials! Thanks a lot! Now I would like of course to know more about that.
You have got a plenty of readers and I don`t wonder, why :)
Thank you for your taking time and visiting my blog!

Anonymous said...

I was curious and found this knowledge:

"The remains were locked inside six coffins in this tomb made of red Finnish porphyry, with a green granite base."

Good night!
Leena

Peter said...

april:
Yes, a lot of details, but it's so full of beautiful things that I cannot just choose one photo!

leena:
I'm happy to get some "Finnish comments" on this; that's what I hoped for. I found the same info as you and it of course struck me!

Anonymous said...

Les Invalides ! Parisian high culture at its best !