"France cannot be France without greatness... La France ne peut être la France sans la grandeur." Hero of France
Napoléon Bonaparte: The man, the myth, the genius, the emperor, the legend. Today, his name is associated with desserts, ice cream, and a complex, but the burning question remains... was he good or was he bad? Seems like every historian has an opinion, many in France still consider Napoléon a hero, yet there are others who consider him a ruthless dictator who conquered Europe. So let's delve into the story of "Le Petit Caporal"...
My journey to visit Tombeau de Napoléon was filled with anticipation and much respect. I'm a history romantic and enjoy delving into the past. So visiting Napoléon's Tomb at Les Invalides was a dream come true. The maze of buildings, built in the 1670's-1700's, holds the military history of France at Musée de l'Armée. You literally have to walk the military parade grounds, lined with giant antique cannons, to get to his Tomb.
I arrived at Les Invalides Dome and was greeted by armed military guards and screening. There's a price of admission, however it's free if you have a Paris Museum Pass (highly recommended). Parisian VIP credentials in place it was a breeze for me. I then walked down a spiral walkway, walls covered with period art, and many with Napoléon's likeliness. I guess that was the little Narcissist in him lol.
I could see his Tomb over the balcony as I strolled down the centuries old walkway. I believe three levels to reach the bottom. The natural sunlight magically entered Les Invalides Dome and made it that much more surreal. His remains in five urns. One made from tin, one from mahogany, two from lead and one from ebony, in which Napoleon also lies. All five urns are inside a sculpted piece of red porphyry.
The Tomb is elevated at over 16-feet high and to realize Napoléon's here is breathtaking. The journey to the Tomb is as important as his final destination. Napoléon Bonaparte, 1769-1821, R.I.P.
In the end, I highly recommend Tombeau de Napoléon. It's in one of the most historic landmarks in all of France, Les Invalides, which makes it a special visit just by visiting. To imagine Napoléon walked the parade grounds I walked still resonates in me. La France ne peut être la France sans la grandeur. Vive la France! read more