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This is an amazing museum! Definitely worth seeing along with the Louvre and Musee D'Orsay. It has Napoleon's Tomb, which is very elaborate, but also an incredible medieval collection of knights' armor and helmets, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. There's also a very moving floor with WW2 history and memorabilia. A very fitting visit for us during the American Memorial Day weekend. We were very touched by it.
This museum may need a day to finish. It is huge. There is a lot to see. The compound divided to Napoleon Tomb, the 13th to 17th armor, 17th to 19th armor, world war, and Charles de Gaulle center. You really need a day. The museum 13th to 17th century armor is beautiful. The preservation of the war armor is still in good shape. You can see each century armors have different improvements. Some is well decorated. The museum has a section to remember the great Charles de Gaulle history. It has detail include how he manage the world war under many pressure. He has been general to president. Many historic is record here with detail. It includes the fall of France during world war. This museum has good collection on the world war. It includes many allied military uniforms, weapons and final atomic bomb. Impressive collection. You also can see many machines gun display.
Besides the Louvre, this was the only other museum I visited in Paris. This museum is most famous for being the location of Napoleon's tomb, but even without that, the museum is worth visiting. It is actual the national military museum for the entire country. Inside, you will see an impressive collection of weapons, armor, uniforms and more from France's history. From Medieval times until World War II, they have it all. From crossbows to tanks. It is rare for any city in the world to have such a large collection in one place.
Interesting military museum, I didn't expect to find it as interesting as it was. Tenth grade global history came back to me here, it would be perfect for a school trip; just a little far. There were a lot of artifacts, old films, costumes, weapons & timelines. It was interesting to see France's perspectives on both world wars. We ended with the WW II victory in a child focused large gift shop & cafe.
Came to see Napoléon. Double check the hours depending on the time of year. I saw it was open until 7pm. Not in November, it closes at 5pm and last tickets are sold at 4pm. The ticket allows you entrance to Napoleon's Tomb and the numerous exhibits in the Musée de l'Armée. Most of the exhibits can be entered from the courtyard or Cour d'Honneur. Some areas are larger than others. They include- Artillery, the Cathédrale, antique arms and armories, Louis XIV to Napoleon III, curiosity rooms, the two world wars, Charles De Gaulle history, reliefs, temporary exhibits, and the Order of Liberation. I wandered in and out, keep your ticket handy. It has to be scanned at each entrance. I took in the antique arms, it included armor for the Emperor's horse. Many pieces of memorabilia were laid out to walk you through the world war time lines. The last hall I visited was the Louis to Napoleon eras. You can certainly walk at your own pace. I really recommend coming in the morning when it opens in case you want time to thoroughly see everything. There's a café on the property if you need a break.
Phenomenal!! The collection of armor and firearms is vast. You can even watch curators working on armor through windows. Great exhibits on the world wars. Extensive exhibit on Charles de Gaulle. The building where Napoleons tomb is stunning! Probably in the top 2 or 3 museums I've visited.
The Army Museum in Paris has an impressive array of military artifacts from the Middle Ages through WWII. While each set of artifacts through the centuries was impressive, the museum's main claim to fame is the abundance of WWI military gear. I have not read much about WWI, especially compared to WWII, nor have I seen many artifacts from that war. This is probably because it was primarily a European war, so US museums don't have as many WWI historical pieces. The Army Museum did not disappoint in this regard. I was intrigued by the elevated gun. I'm not sure if that's what it was called but it enabled a soldier to safely shoot from a bunker. I knew bunkers were heavily used but this gun made me think of how many other tools were designed for bunker warfare. This museum was also my first of many encounters in France with Middle Ages armor. I was particularly surprised by the ornateness of each piece. It was almost as if the armor was more for show than for use in battle. I also didn't see any armor with dents, to confirm that it had been used in battle. Having beautiful armor was probably a status symbol similar to how a car or jewelry is in today's world.
B and I came here to see the Les Invalides Napoleon Tomb. To our surprise there was way more to see at this site than just the Napoleon Tomb. Right behind the Napoleon Tomb is the Musee de l'Armee. Ticket admission is 12,00 € per person. The price was not bad for what you get to see. Musée de l'Armée is only one floor. I believe the time when B and I came, the second floor was closed off. The things on display were very interesting and you can see the changes of the French flag and symbols over time. The Army uniform was very interesting as well. The different designs during the different era/war. The museum laid out could have been better. I mean I am sure they could fit more things in there, if it wasn't for the building layout.
The French military has a mixed reputation for excellence, but there is no denying the excellence of the Musée de l'Armée. One visit is not enough to fully grasp all that the museum offers. The permanent collection (500,000 objects) ranges from the Middle Ages to present day including suits of armor worn by knights, details of the army of Louis XIV, all manner of French cannons and guns, and the campaigns of Napoleon Bonaparte. The tomb of Napoleon is located at Hôtel des Invalides while the museum houses artifacts like his iconic bicorn hat, tiny jacket, and stuffed horse Le Vizir. Several famous paintings of Napoleon are on display including Napoléon 1st at Fontainebleau by Hippolyte (aka Paul Delaroche) and Napoléon 1st on the Imperial Throne by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres Because the museum is located at Les Invalides, admission to Musée de l'Armée is included with admission to Hôtel des Invalides (or you could say admission to Hôtel des Invalides is included with admission to the museum). * Open 7 days a week * Closed Jan 1, May 1, and Dec 25 * Hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (6:00 in summer) * 12€ for adults * Free for children under 18 * Only 10€ after 4:00 pm (winter) or 5:00 pm (summer) * PARIS MUSEUM PASS accepted * Unguided individual tours take 2-5 hours * Guided tours available in several languages As the national (and largest) military museum of France, Musée de l'Armée (Army Museum) is one of the primary attractions at Les Invalides. I found it to be more educational and much bigger than I expected. I could (and did) spend hours here with hopes of spending more.
This Museum features an extensive variety of war memorabilia ranging from military uniforms to weapons. The complex also contains a church which houses Napoleon's tomb. The pros: The museum is huge and you can easily spend hours seeing and reading everything. The exhibits were extensive, historic and interesting. The cons: We arrived around 6 pm on Tuesday night when they were having extended hours until 9 pm. Unfortunately, after 6 pm only Napoleon's tomb and 2 of their 10 other exhibits were still open. According to their website, additional exhibits including the ancient arms and armor exhibit were supposed to remain open until 9 pm. My husband came specifically for that exhibit and was extremely disappointed that it was not open. They need to post accurate information on their website so visitors can plan thier trip accordingly. Furthermore, they charged us 10 euros each for entrance to the museum even though so many exhibits were closed. I later looked on the website and learned we were over charged as there is a reduced admission rate of 6 euros per person after 6 pm. In addition, many of the exhibit description are only written in French. This was surprising as we have been to countless museums in France and across Europe and this was the first one we encountered where significant amounts of exhibit descriptions weren't translated to English.
I have tomb envy. And I couldn't help but sing a variation on Chris Farley's little ditty from Tommy Boy, "Little man in a big tomb" when I saw Napoleon's tomb in the Dôme des Invalides at Le musée de l'Armée. It has to be seen to be believed. And I didn't even see it my first day. I only had two full days in Paris and spent a large chunk of time on both days at this museum. So, I should fully disclose my bias up front. I am obsessed with military museums and have been my entire life. My first day was spent wandering the oldest wing of the museum which covers the 13th through 17th centuries. I was dropping my jaw in almost every gallery. While many museums have a little bit of this and a little of that, I don't think the French ever threw anything away. It is all beautifully preserved, cataloged and displayed. They even have Napoleon's horse (yes, the real horse). Now I've seen some amazing armor and livery for horses in my day, but I don't think I've ever seen it for camels. All those campaigns in Africa blew my mind. And I love suits of armor and there are amazing ones on display here, from those worn by the little princes for ceremonies to centuries of different variations used in battle. There is even a breastplate with a cannon ball hole from the Battle of Waterloo. Ouch. The next large section is the Modern section from Louis XIV to Napolean III (ending in 1870). I returned the following day for Napoleon's tomb and the Contemporary wing (WW1 and WW2). And surprisingly, I found the collections in the 20th century the least compelling. For obvious reasons, the equipment and uniforms became more functional, and dare I say, boring. I've seen this done better in other places and personally it was just a let down compared to the other sections of this museum. Although, throughout the museum, the didn't limit themselves to French military history. There were examples of uniforms worn in other countries as well (Japan, America, England, etc.). This collection is far from boring and while the galleries were manned by young, disinterested security staff, the Main Courtyard of the Hôtel des Invalides was filled with lively reenactments on both days of my visit. And yes, I do love a man in uniform. These gents (and a few ladies) modeled centuries of military garments and there were even some active duty soldiers with some weapons still in use. They would have some fixed presentations in the main courtyard, then at the end, you could join them for a chat and photos. My boys were terribly jealous. If you only have a little bit of time, I highly recommend you at least take in the Main Courtyard. They only charge and check tickets inside the museum, so you could enjoy this part of the experience for free. And the architecture, including the golden Dôme des Invalides are worth the effort. For some reason, I didn't really expect much, so this museum was the unexpected highlight of my trip to Paris. All the things you expect to ooh and aah over, like the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame, couldn't compare. And I'm a little shocked to say, neither can any of the other military museums I've ever visited on five continents. ----- This is covered by the Paris Museum Pass. Both the main exhibits and Napoleon's tomb.
ATTENTION MEN! Forget the Louvre... Forget the d'Orsay... Forget the l'Orangerie... Forget the Rodin... Forget Picasso, Renior, Monet, etc etc This is the best effing museum in all of Paris for MEN! You'll see... knives! maces! swords! sabres! lances! guns! uniforms! artillery! tanks! bazookas! jeeps aa cannons! cannons! armor! a vintage us military issued condom! and much much more!!!!!
If it can kill, you'll find it here. Unexpectedly, this was a highlight of my trip to Paris and I spent hours wandering about this endless collection of history and weaponry. I began with a visit to Napoleon's tomb. Resting under a familiar looking golden dome lies the emperor. It really is an impressive set up, particularly when looking up from the downstairs burial chamber. After looking around a bit, I continued on to the military museum. I'm always amazed by the collections of weaponry. This place is unrivaled. Beginning with hundreds of figurines depicting armor and dress from Roman gladiators to modern day soldiers, I was blown away. They really have everything you can think of here. Wings are dedicated to arms and armor of various regions. Noteworthy were the cavalry room, the World Wars collection and the arsenal of endless armor. It reminded me of the thousands of Clone Troopers in formation awaiting their orders on Kamino. So much to see here. Lots of history and interactive exhibits, in English too. -Paris Museum Pass gets you in free
The Musee de l'Armee is located in the Hotel des Invaldies, which also houses the grand tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. It was created by Loius XIV as a hospital and retirement home for veterans. The museum has many different sections to visit and houses one of the largest collections of military weapons and other objets from the middle ages to the present: swords, knives, weapons, guns, pistols, cannons, armor, military uniforms, Napoleon's death mask, and so much more. It also houses a cathedral, St Louis des Invalides. We visited in February 2026 and paid 17 euro each for entrance fee. Its opens at 10am and closes at 5:50pm. Plan to spend at least 3 to 4 hours here. We were here for the entire day and still did not get to see everything. Audio guides are free as long as you leave an ID with the desk. I would recommend getting the audio tour. There was massive construction going on in the enormous courtyard, so unfortunately this area was not accessible. Lots of walking and stairs to climb. There is a cafe close to Napoleon's tomb to get some drinks and snacks and take a rest. read more
2 years ago
We paid a fee to see all the museum areas but only planned to see the casket of Napoleon. I am posting a pic of it but the size doesn't really get revealed. I would say, equal to the same size as a semi truck tractor unit. And the other area was the world wars in order. Uniforms and weapons in order of appearance. The ww2 battery operated sound phone with directional antenna on the chest was a winner discovery. Batteries are in the canvas snap downs belted all around his waist. The current equal is my iPhone 13 and I can take pictures and speak to anywhere in the world if I want too. That is the description of progress. That's in just 80 years. Wowza. read more
2 years ago
This is an amazing museum! Definitely worth seeing along with the Louvre and Musee D'Orsay. It has Napoleon's Tomb, which is very elaborate, but also an incredible medieval collection of knights' armor and helmets, dating back to the 12th and 13th centuries. There's also a very moving floor with WW2 history and memorabilia. A very fitting visit for us during the American Memorial Day weekend. We were very touched by it. read more
3 months ago
This museum may need a day to finish. It is huge. There is a lot to see. The compound divided to Napoleon Tomb, the 13th to 17th armor, 17th to 19th armor, world war, and Charles de Gaulle center. You really need a day. The museum 13th to 17th century armor is beautiful. The preservation of the war armor is still in good shape. You can see each century armors have different improvements. Some is well decorated. The museum has a section to remember the great Charles de Gaulle history. It has detail include how he manage the world war under many pressure. He has been general to president. Many historic is record here with detail. It includes the fall of France during world war. This museum has good collection on the world war. It includes many allied military uniforms, weapons and final atomic bomb. Impressive collection. You also can see many machines gun display. read more
Besides the Louvre, this was the only other museum I visited in Paris. This museum is most famous for being the location of Napoleon's tomb, but even without that, the museum is worth visiting. It is actual the national military museum for the entire country. Inside, you will see an impressive collection of weapons, armor, uniforms and more from France's history. From Medieval times until World War II, they have it all. From crossbows to tanks. It is rare for any city in the world to have such a large collection in one place. read more
Interesting military museum, I didn't expect to find it as interesting as it was. Tenth grade global history came back to me here, it would be perfect for a school trip; just a little far. There were a lot of artifacts, old films, costumes, weapons & timelines. It was interesting to see France's perspectives on both world wars. We ended with the WW II victory in a child focused large gift shop & cafe. read more
Came to see Napoléon. Double check the hours depending on the time of year. I saw it was open until 7pm. Not in November, it closes at 5pm and last tickets are sold at 4pm. The ticket allows you entrance to Napoleon's Tomb and the numerous exhibits in the Musée de l'Armée. Most of the exhibits can be entered from the courtyard or Cour d'Honneur. Some areas are larger than others. They include- Artillery, the Cathédrale, antique arms and armories, Louis XIV to Napoleon III, curiosity rooms, the two world wars, Charles De Gaulle history, reliefs, temporary exhibits, and the Order of Liberation. I wandered in and out, keep your ticket handy. It has to be scanned at each entrance. I took in the antique arms, it included armor for the Emperor's horse. Many pieces of memorabilia were laid out to walk you through the world war time lines. The last hall I visited was the Louis to Napoleon eras. You can certainly walk at your own pace. I really recommend coming in the morning when it opens in case you want time to thoroughly see everything. There's a café on the property if you need a break. read more
3 years ago
Phenomenal!! The collection of armor and firearms is vast. You can even watch curators working on armor through windows. Great exhibits on the world wars. Extensive exhibit on Charles de Gaulle. The building where Napoleons tomb is stunning! Probably in the top 2 or 3 museums I've visited. read more
The Army Museum in Paris has an impressive array of military artifacts from the Middle Ages through WWII. While each set of artifacts through the centuries was impressive, the museum's main claim to fame is the abundance of WWI military gear. I have not read much about WWI, especially compared to WWII, nor have I seen many artifacts from that war. This is probably because it was primarily a European war, so US museums don't have as many WWI historical pieces. The Army Museum did not disappoint in this regard. I was intrigued by the elevated gun. I'm not sure if that's what it was called but it enabled a soldier to safely shoot from a bunker. I knew bunkers were heavily used but this gun made me think of how many other tools were designed for bunker warfare. This museum was also my first of many encounters in France with Middle Ages armor. I was particularly surprised by the ornateness of each piece. It was almost as if the armor was more for show than for use in battle. I also didn't see any armor with dents, to confirm that it had been used in battle. Having beautiful armor was probably a status symbol similar to how a car or jewelry is in today's world. read more
B and I came here to see the Les Invalides Napoleon Tomb. To our surprise there was way more to see at this site than just the Napoleon Tomb. Right behind the Napoleon Tomb is the Musee de l'Armee. Ticket admission is 12,00 € per person. The price was not bad for what you get to see. Musée de l'Armée is only one floor. I believe the time when B and I came, the second floor was closed off. The things on display were very interesting and you can see the changes of the French flag and symbols over time. The Army uniform was very interesting as well. The different designs during the different era/war. The museum laid out could have been better. I mean I am sure they could fit more things in there, if it wasn't for the building layout. read more
3 years ago
8 years ago
The French military has a mixed reputation for excellence, but there is no denying the excellence of the Musée de l'Armée. One visit is not enough to fully grasp all that the museum offers. The permanent collection (500,000 objects) ranges from the Middle Ages to present day including suits of armor worn by knights, details of the army of Louis XIV, all manner of French cannons and guns, and the campaigns of Napoleon Bonaparte. The tomb of Napoleon is located at Hôtel des Invalides while the museum houses artifacts like his iconic bicorn hat, tiny jacket, and stuffed horse Le Vizir. Several famous paintings of Napoleon are on display including Napoléon 1st at Fontainebleau by Hippolyte (aka Paul Delaroche) and Napoléon 1st on the Imperial Throne by Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres Because the museum is located at Les Invalides, admission to Musée de l'Armée is included with admission to Hôtel des Invalides (or you could say admission to Hôtel des Invalides is included with admission to the museum). * Open 7 days a week * Closed Jan 1, May 1, and Dec 25 * Hours: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (6:00 in summer) * 12€ for adults * Free for children under 18 * Only 10€ after 4:00 pm (winter) or 5:00 pm (summer) * PARIS MUSEUM PASS accepted * Unguided individual tours take 2-5 hours * Guided tours available in several languages As the national (and largest) military museum of France, Musée de l'Armée (Army Museum) is one of the primary attractions at Les Invalides. I found it to be more educational and much bigger than I expected. I could (and did) spend hours here with hopes of spending more. read more
7 years ago
This Museum features an extensive variety of war memorabilia ranging from military uniforms to weapons. The complex also contains a church which houses Napoleon's tomb. The pros: The museum is huge and you can easily spend hours seeing and reading everything. The exhibits were extensive, historic and interesting. The cons: We arrived around 6 pm on Tuesday night when they were having extended hours until 9 pm. Unfortunately, after 6 pm only Napoleon's tomb and 2 of their 10 other exhibits were still open. According to their website, additional exhibits including the ancient arms and armor exhibit were supposed to remain open until 9 pm. My husband came specifically for that exhibit and was extremely disappointed that it was not open. They need to post accurate information on their website so visitors can plan thier trip accordingly. Furthermore, they charged us 10 euros each for entrance to the museum even though so many exhibits were closed. I later looked on the website and learned we were over charged as there is a reduced admission rate of 6 euros per person after 6 pm. In addition, many of the exhibit description are only written in French. This was surprising as we have been to countless museums in France and across Europe and this was the first one we encountered where significant amounts of exhibit descriptions weren't translated to English. read more
I have tomb envy. And I couldn't help but sing a variation on Chris Farley's little ditty from Tommy Boy, "Little man in a big tomb" when I saw Napoleon's tomb in the Dôme des Invalides at Le musée de l'Armée. It has to be seen to be believed. And I didn't even see it my first day. I only had two full days in Paris and spent a large chunk of time on both days at this museum. So, I should fully disclose my bias up front. I am obsessed with military museums and have been my entire life. My first day was spent wandering the oldest wing of the museum which covers the 13th through 17th centuries. I was dropping my jaw in almost every gallery. While many museums have a little bit of this and a little of that, I don't think the French ever threw anything away. It is all beautifully preserved, cataloged and displayed. They even have Napoleon's horse (yes, the real horse). Now I've seen some amazing armor and livery for horses in my day, but I don't think I've ever seen it for camels. All those campaigns in Africa blew my mind. And I love suits of armor and there are amazing ones on display here, from those worn by the little princes for ceremonies to centuries of different variations used in battle. There is even a breastplate with a cannon ball hole from the Battle of Waterloo. Ouch. The next large section is the Modern section from Louis XIV to Napolean III (ending in 1870). I returned the following day for Napoleon's tomb and the Contemporary wing (WW1 and WW2). And surprisingly, I found the collections in the 20th century the least compelling. For obvious reasons, the equipment and uniforms became more functional, and dare I say, boring. I've seen this done better in other places and personally it was just a let down compared to the other sections of this museum. Although, throughout the museum, the didn't limit themselves to French military history. There were examples of uniforms worn in other countries as well (Japan, America, England, etc.). This collection is far from boring and while the galleries were manned by young, disinterested security staff, the Main Courtyard of the Hôtel des Invalides was filled with lively reenactments on both days of my visit. And yes, I do love a man in uniform. These gents (and a few ladies) modeled centuries of military garments and there were even some active duty soldiers with some weapons still in use. They would have some fixed presentations in the main courtyard, then at the end, you could join them for a chat and photos. My boys were terribly jealous. If you only have a little bit of time, I highly recommend you at least take in the Main Courtyard. They only charge and check tickets inside the museum, so you could enjoy this part of the experience for free. And the architecture, including the golden Dôme des Invalides are worth the effort. For some reason, I didn't really expect much, so this museum was the unexpected highlight of my trip to Paris. All the things you expect to ooh and aah over, like the Louvre, Arc de Triomphe and Notre Dame, couldn't compare. And I'm a little shocked to say, neither can any of the other military museums I've ever visited on five continents. ----- This is covered by the Paris Museum Pass. Both the main exhibits and Napoleon's tomb. read more
ATTENTION MEN! Forget the Louvre... Forget the d'Orsay... Forget the l'Orangerie... Forget the Rodin... Forget Picasso, Renior, Monet, etc etc This is the best effing museum in all of Paris for MEN! You'll see... knives! maces! swords! sabres! lances! guns! uniforms! artillery! tanks! bazookas! jeeps aa cannons! cannons! armor! a vintage us military issued condom! and much much more!!!!! read more
If it can kill, you'll find it here. Unexpectedly, this was a highlight of my trip to Paris and I spent hours wandering about this endless collection of history and weaponry. I began with a visit to Napoleon's tomb. Resting under a familiar looking golden dome lies the emperor. It really is an impressive set up, particularly when looking up from the downstairs burial chamber. After looking around a bit, I continued on to the military museum. I'm always amazed by the collections of weaponry. This place is unrivaled. Beginning with hundreds of figurines depicting armor and dress from Roman gladiators to modern day soldiers, I was blown away. They really have everything you can think of here. Wings are dedicated to arms and armor of various regions. Noteworthy were the cavalry room, the World Wars collection and the arsenal of endless armor. It reminded me of the thousands of Clone Troopers in formation awaiting their orders on Kamino. So much to see here. Lots of history and interactive exhibits, in English too. -Paris Museum Pass gets you in free read more
3 years ago
If you love Charles de Gaulle, Napoleon I, Chivalry and French history you'll love the Musée de l'Armée! I bought my tickets in advance and went very early and waited until they opened and then went straight to the Tomb of Napoleon. It was pretty confusing to get there for there are many separate buildings such as museums, a retirement home and a hospital for war veterans which was the buildings original purpose. On entering the Dome of the Invalides where Napoleon's Tomb is, you can see the grandeur and opulence of it which is fit for an emperor such as Napoleon was. You can take a closer look at the Tomb by walking downstairs to the cella where you will see a circular gallery with panels depicting Napoleon's achievements. And as you walk through the gallery you will see a statue of Napoleon depicted as a Roman emperor, where under the statue contains the tomb of Napoleons son, who died at the young age of 21. And once you're upstairs again you will see the tombs of Napoleons brothers, Jérôme and Joseph Bonaparte. Next, I went to Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération which was founded by Charles de Gaulle and dedicated to the World Wars, where it had some of the most interesting artifacts from the 20th century. As you walk through the Resistance gallery one of the first things you will see is Jean Moulin's famous signature outfit with the black coat, scarf and fedora. The next gallery is dedicated to the Free France movement which was my favorite part, for there was a room devoted to Charles de Gaulle which had his uniform when he was a general, his many medals, the valise he took to London and many more. When you go upstairs to the Deportation Gallery which is the saddest part of the building you see two deportation outfits from Resistance fighters who lived to see the liberation of France. As you continue walking you see more deportation outfits, drawings from deportees that are very sad to see, some stories, and an embroidered cloth signed by the women deportees at Ravensbrück to not be forgotten. And then there is the Musée de l'Armée building which is dedicated to arms and armors that have 13th century Chivalry armors, swords and more from Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Continuing on the Musée de l'Armée there will be artifacts from great battles of history and some of Emperor Napoleon's personal items such as his medals, his uniform and the camp-bed where he died in 1821 in St. Helena. Overall, Les Invalides is one of the best places to go to in Paris and it's a must see! read more
After 3 weeks in Paris on mostly business and some pleasure, Musée de l'Armée (inside Hôtel National des Invalides) has been the high point of about dozen tourist attractions. 9.5€ My Paris guide recommended 3 hours; my visit was full 5 hours. Yes, it is that big. Not for kids...likely to be bored quickly. Musée de l'Armée includes french military history through the ages (France has had its share of wars...more than you would imagine), life of Général Charles de Gaulle, and histories of France during WWI and WWII. You'll also learn the dark side of France's role re cooperation with the Nazis and crimes against Jews. You'll learn about 1800s French pride over logic: the military opposed camouflage uniforms preferring bright red pants because it looks better. Really. Pluses: most displays included explanations in English, German and Spanish...though these explanations were shorter than the French write-ups. Tip: rent the audio guide for 6€. EU members pay less. Why discriminate?? Tip II: Arrive when they open so won't be rushed and less crowds early too. Tip III: Bring ID. You need to leave ID for audio headset. I didn't bring any so had to leave my credit card. Didn't like it but no other option. Puzzler: Who's buried in Napoleon's Tomb? read more
Best part of this museum was seeing Napolean's Tomb! Magical. Fascinating. :) We also got to see real military personnel wandering the premises of the museum (there was some type of party or gathering going on). The museum is vast, lots of different areas to explore, but we were only able to briskly walk through and then headed straight for the tomb! read more
A really good museum. It's got everything from swords and armor going back centuries to Napoleonic stuff, and lots of other military-related things. What I loved most was the exhibits on World War I and World War II. The WWI exhibit really brought home for me the horrors of that sort of warfare and the effects on the French people. There are some great interactive exhibits as well as vintage posters and newspaper articles from that period. I must have spent more than half a day here and I thought I only saw half the exhibits. The grounds are also beautiful. The architecture is grand and beautiful, just like much of the buildings from that era in Paris. read more
There is probably more to this museum that I actually saw, however I was really only interested in, and only had time to visit, the ones that dealt with World Wars I&II and the period from the reign of the Sun King through to the Franco-Prussian war. You do have to pay to get it, and the cashier is hidden near the entrance, but after you pay you pretty much have the run of the place. The museum is actually quite interesting, and also pretty interactive as well. One part of the museum has these tables where the battles play out for you. Also, they have a huge collection of military equipment, and it is pretty impressive looking at early modern pikes right up to modern guns. The world war musuem is also incredibly detailed, which is not surprising considering it effected France so significantly. read more
12 years ago
Spectacular military museum that includes almost any kind of war-related exhibit you could possibly think of, from helmets, medieval armors, uniforms, pistols, machine guns, knives, lances, flags, standards, cannons, recruitment posters, vehicles - but also war-themed paintings. One of the most impressive parts is the WWII exhibition. And since it's right next to the splendid Dome des Invalides that contains the red marble sarcophagus of Napoléon (you can buy a ticket that covers both) - what's not to love. You go to Paris you MUST visit these marvelous historic premises. The Musée de l'Armée is huge. I mean, really, really huge - so it's nigh impossible to see everything on a single visit. So either you come back a couple of days later, or you decide which are you favorite periods or wars and just focus on those. Personally, I'm a sucker for medieval armour, and for WWs I and II. But whichever periods you choose, there'll be plenty to see. The Rodin Museum is also close (about a 7-8 minute walk from the Dome). The Dome des Invalides needs to introduction. Apart from its most famous attraction, it also serves as a mausoleum for other French military heroes like Vauban, Turenne and Marchal Foche. Its crypta is also of considerable interest for its wall decorations. Non-flash photography is allowed throughout the museum and the Dome. After your visit to both you might want to relax at the rather nice cafeteria that you'll find next to the main museum corridor. They offer a decent selection of well-prepared light lunches or cakes, and some beers on tap at prices you only wish you'd get at one of the regular restaurants in the area. This is a self-recommending museum, and one of the grandest examples of empire architecture in Paris. read more
12 years ago
6 years ago
10 years ago
My husband loved it. We had not expected to go see it but we had mistakenly gone to Rodin on Monday (closed day). He loved all of the knight gear and arms. We got a glimpse of Napoleon's tomb as well and if you walk out the back you will be in the direction of the pont Alexander bridge, Grand palais, little palais and Champs Elysee. If your interested in arms this is for you. There is a small Angelina's to go next to the boutique if you are looking for one and can't find one that is not out of the way this is perfect. The museum offers little Napoleon shaped hats for kids and has a large courtyard in the middle. There were plenty of kids enjoying the Visit on the day we went. If you are not interested in the museums you can walk in and enjoy the boutique, Angelina,or walk across to get to the Pont Alexander. Boutique had some nice souvenirs but some were very pricey. You don't have to pay to enter. Just walk in. read more
The Musée de l'Armée, created in 1905, is located in the prestigious setting of the Hôtel National des Invalides. It was created in 1905 just after the World Fair. It extends over 8,000 m² and is made up of a museum and two churches with some 500,000 objects. This makes it the largest museum of military history in France, and one of the leading ones in the world. The permanent collections are presented chronologically in 'historical' collections representing time periods, from Antiquity to the end of the Second World War. The Dome Church (designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart), with its 107-metres-high lantern and huge fresco painted by Charles de La Fosse, had its dome given a new coat of gold leaf in 1989 for the bicentenary of the French Revolution (requiring 12 kg of gold). Dome is home to the tombs of the Emperor Napoleon. read more
We came in here thinking this was where Napolean's tomb was but it turns out it is under the dome building (Église du Dôme) and we ran out of time to get there before they closed. Hôtel des Invalides is actually a complex of multiple buildings so it can get a little confusing. It was still pretty cool to see the military history in the Musee de l'Armee though. They had everything from suits of armor to stuff about WWII. I particularly liked cobblestone courtyard (Cour d'honneur). You could just picture soldiers practicing military exercises and having parades there. The courtyards and outer gardens are all free to wander but they do close the gates when the museum closes though. read more
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More info about Musée de l'Armée
Hôtel des Invalides
Esplanade des Invalides
75007 Paris
France
7ème, Invalides
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08 10 11 33 99
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http://www.musee-armee.fr
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