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
Really nice museum. The building is really interesting to explore and quite massive. Huge disappointment in the WW1 and WW2 museums. Haven seen some amazing ones around the world in Korea, USA, Russia, among many others, this falls flat. Barely anything interesting on display. Don't go for that only if that is what interests you.
Elana Podvalniuk - a month ago
When you approach Musee de l’armee you get a beautiful glimpse of the Eiffel tower. The entrance is incredibly grand and impressive. As you walk the grounds there is so much to take in working your way to Napoleon's tomb. Napoleon’s tomb is just breathtaking, make sure you look up and take your time to really take it all in. Once you’re done in Napoleon's tomb each section of Musee de l’armee is incredibly curated and houses some really neat artifacts that are centuries old. Make sure to give yourself lots of time to read, observe and really enjoy it all! If you are traveling with someone who is fascinated by military history this is an absolute must see.
Sara Boers - 5 months ago
If you're interested in Arms and armour / History, this is a must see.
An interesting assortment of sniper rifles, not displayed together, but spread around by origin.
Not too crowded, it offers a fantastic travel in time from the Middle Ages to Modern.
Hector José Medina Gómez - 2 months ago
This is a must visit place in Paris. It’s full of great historical pieces. Their website recommends that you spend two hours at the museum. However, I spent almost double that and had to skip some. So, I highly recommend that you get the 12pm entry ticket, especially if you enjoy the seeing the details.
Mamdouh Algadheb - 2 months ago
This place is massive! Plan to spend 3-4 hours to do it justice. The cathedral is magnificent and Napoleon's coffin to boot. Don't miss the display of the dioramas from the 18th century. BTW, Google maps sent us to the back doors that are closed till 2pm. This is a must see.
Russell Blanchard - a month 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.
Map & Instant Route Finder
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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: Eric@focus - 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
