Invalides

Invalides station opens onto the grand esplanade in front of Les Invalides - the complex of buildings commissioned by Louis XIV in 1670 as a hospital and retirement home for wounded soldiers, now housing Napoleon Bonaparte's tomb and the Musée de l'Armée. The golden dome of the Dôme des Invalides catches the sun spectacularly and is one of the defining elements of the Paris skyline, visible from many parts of the city. Napoleon's tomb is in the crypt below the dome - a red porphyry sarcophagus surrounded by the remains of his marshals, inside a gallery of Corinthian columns of white marble.

Station Overview

Zone 1. Lines 8 and 13 plus RER C. No step-free access.

Travel Tips

• Les Invalides and the Musée de l'Armée require 2–3 hours minimum - the collection spans from medieval armour to World War II
• The Musée Rodin is a 10-minute walk east - The Thinker in the garden, The Kiss inside, and Rodin's working space preserved
• RER C from here reaches Versailles in approximately 40 minutes - a practical alternative approach to the château
• The esplanade in front of Les Invalides is free to walk through at any time

Nearby Attractions

Les Invalides and Musée de l'Armée - Directly outside. Napoleon's tomb, medieval armour, Revolutionary and Napoleonic galleries, and WWII exhibits. Admission charged.

Musée Rodin - 10 minutes walk east. The sculptor's former house and garden with The Thinker, The Kiss and The Gates of Hell. Admission charged; garden-only ticket available.

Eiffel Tower - 20 minutes walk west along the Seine. Or take Line 8 to La Motte-Picquet-Grenelle for a 10-minute approach.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Standard Métro hours. Les Invalides is open daily 10:00–18:00 (until 21:00 in summer). The golden dome is spectacular in late afternoon light when the sun illuminates it from the west.