About
The Musée des Invalides sits in the historic Les Invalides complex on Rue de Grenelle in Paris's 7th arrondissement. Known in English as the Army Museum, it is one of the best-known places in the city for anyone interested in military history, and it is also the home of Napoleon's tomb.
What you will see
The museum holds extensive collections covering French military history. Visitors move through galleries that trace the long story of the armed forces, with objects, weapons and artworks gathered over many centuries. The sheer range of the collections means a visit can easily take a good part of a day.
Napoleon's tomb
The tomb of Napoleon is the centrepiece for many visitors. It lies within the complex, and its setting gives a sense of the scale of the site and of the emperor's place in French memory. Even those with only a passing interest in history will find the moment of standing before it memorable.
The setting
Les Invalides was built by order of Louis XIV, and its buildings and courtyards are part of the visit in their own right. Walking the grounds gives a feel for the complex's size and its origins as a home for veterans, before you step inside the museum itself.
Planning your visit
- Address: 129 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris, France
- Telephone: +33 1 44 42 38 77
- Allow a substantial part of the day if you want to see the collections and the tomb.
- Also known as the Army Museum, Tomb of Napoleon, or simply Invalides, so look for these names when searching.
For visitors who enjoy history, the Musée des Invalides makes a rewarding stop in Paris, combining a deep military collection with one of the city's most significant historic monuments.
