Hôtel des Invalides

The “invalids” for whom is imposing Hôtel was built were wounded soldiers of the late 17th century. Louis XIV had the building constructed between 1671-8, and there are still old soldiers housed here, although only a dozen or so compared to the 6,000 who first moved in. They share their home with the greatest French soldiers of them all, Napoleon Bonaparte, whose body rests in a crypt directly below the golden dome of the Dôme Church. Other buildings accommodate military offices, the Musée de l’Armée and smaller military museums.