Les Invalides
(Museum of Arms and Armor)
The collections showcased at Les Invalides are varied, interesting and span over large periods of time
War has played a significant role in almost every country's history and France is no different. Les Invalides or the Museum of Arms and Armour contains a comprehensive history of war and the role it played in the establishment and development of the great country of France. Items on display here include weaponry, artillery used and armour and uniforms utilized by the French army. There are also a number of other important documents and tributes that are on display.
One thing to bear in mind is that much of the ancient French armour and weaponry, while practical and functional for its time, are also intricate and beautiful works of art. Viewing the exhibits of le musée de l'Armée is on par with visiting any of the finest art museums in Paris.
Les Invalides is situated in the 7th arrondissement of Paris and is home to an assortment of military equipment, monuments and military buildings. The buildings and palatial structures that house the museum and other military facilities including a hospital and veterans retirement home are truly spectacular. They have a rich history dating back to the late 1600s.
A visit to Les Invalides is quite the cultural experience for those looking to immerse themselves in the history of Paris and France. The museum of arms and armour resides within one of the buildings at Les Invalides while the burial site of some of the country's most revered war heroes is contained in one of the other buildings. In fact, the remains of Napoleon Bonaparte himself are buried in a tomb here, a tomb many patriots and historians would love to pay tribute to.
The museum, as it stands today, is more than a century old. It was established in 1905 when two prominent museums merged into one. The Historical Army Museum and the Artillery Museum merged to form the Museum of Arms and Armour. Some of the most notable collections in the museum would be the "ancient weapons and armours" collection, the "artillery scale-models" collection and the collection dedicated in part to Napoleon I. The collections showcased are varied, interesting and span over large periods of time and this museum is considered to be one of the best of its kind in the world. A visit to Les Invalides and the Museum of Arms and Armour is one of the best cultural daytrips you can go on while in Paris.
Nearby attraction: Musée Rodin
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: Yes.Musee de l’Armee Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Sunday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Address: 129 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris, France
Phone: 01 44 42 38 77
Official Website: Musee de l’Armee
Musee de l’Armee Reviews
Rated out of 5
One of my favorite museums I've ever visited.
The Hôtel des Invalides is absolutely amazing, full of history and incredible exhibits. It actually took us two full days to walk through the whole place, and every part was worth it. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting Paris - such a great and unforgettable experience.
Vincent Chong - a month ago
Amazing experience. I have been to Paris multiple times in the past but have never been here until today. Displays are modern and well presented. The physical size and scope covered is both impressive and exhausting. All French wars from the last 500+ years are covered in excellent detail showing uniforms, weapons and armor. If this is your thing, it’s amazing. Quite confident I will return on a future visit to Paris. I was here on a Friday mid morning and traffic was very light. Highly recommend!
Mike Morris - a month ago
'An incredible museum with deep French military history and beautifully presented exhibits. Napoleon’s Tomb was the highlight for me—powerful and unforgettable. The collections are extensive, the layout is excellent, and I learned so much. A must-visit for anyone interested in history.
Martin Waruinge - a week ago
Decent museum but a lot of it was roped off as it was being updated or repaired. Some good artifacts but not everything was labeled well, particularly uniforms. Also only a small minority of plaques are multilingual. So either you use Google translate or you'll miss a lot.
S - a week ago
It’s an huge military and defense museum which requires hours to walk around and study each piece. The tickets allow you access to the chapel and toms too.
The academy (current museums) has four sides. Each side has four levels. So plan your time if you desire to see all pieces.
Hadi Arbabi - 2 months ago
Directions
| Metro / RER Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| M8 | La tour - Maubourg | 3 minutes |
| M13 | Varenne | 5 minutes |
| RER C | Invalides | 7 minutes |
How to get to Musee de l’Armee by Metro / RER
By Metro: from Latour - Maubourg station exit and walk northeast along Avenue de la Motte-Picquet to the main entrance; from Varenne Station exit and walk north along Blvd. des Invalides then left on Place des Invalides to the entrance.
By RER C: exit Invalides Station and proceed straight south through the plaza along Avenue du Marechal Gallieni to the entrance.
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Accommodations near Musee de l’Armee:
Photo Gallery
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View of the spectacular Palace Les Invalides cc licensed ( BY ND ) flickr photo by gadgetdude -
Photo Credit: Falcon_33 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Falcon_33 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Falcon_33 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Falcon_33 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Falcon_33 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Falcon_33 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Falcon_33 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Falcon_33 - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: corno.fulgur75 - cc license via Flickr
