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France
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Île-de-France
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Paris
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Private Guided Tour of the Invalides Army Museum and Cathedral
2h30
Private
With guide
About this activity
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Musee de l’Armee des Invalides, 129 rue de Grenelle Hôtel National des Invalides, 75007 Paris France
Commissioned by King Louis XIV and designed in the 17th century by Jules Hardouin Mansart (the same architect who designed the incredible Hall of Mirrors in Versailles), the Invalides was originally built as a hospital and home for wounded and retired soldiers returning from the king’s wars. The king knew that he owed his glories to his troops, so he ordered a most magnificent building for them. Nowadays, you will still find veterans living here, and the gold-domed Cathedral of St. Louis is the seat of the Bishop of the Armies.
Follow your expert guide on a journey through history. See magnificent Medieval and Renaissance armor; learn how the French and their allies resisted the invading German armies during World War II and how and why Uncle Sam got involved. Discover how the Resistance was organized, how the D-Day landings were coordinated and how they were perceived in Paris – including the story of the British fighter pilots who lived hidden in the dome during the Occupation. Explore the lives of two of the most famous and influential figures of French military history, Charles de Gaulle and Napoleon Bonaparte.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Cathedrale Saint-Louis des Invalides, 53 boulevard de la Tour Maubourg, 75007 Paris France
Then visit the breathtaking tomb of the most famous general in European history. After crowning himself Emperor in 1804, Napoleon went on to conquer huge swathes of Europe until his final defeat at Waterloo. Exiled until his death in 1821, his body was returned to France and placed here in the enormous sarcophagus built specially for him. His son is also buried next to him, his body brought to Paris by Hitler in 1940.
Join your private guide on this compelling visit to the Invalides on a journey through war, defeat, resistance, and glory.
Duration: 1 hour
Read more
Show less
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Musee de l’Armee des Invalides, 129 rue de Grenelle Hôtel National des Invalides, 75007 Paris France
Commissioned by King Louis XIV and designed in the 17th century by Jules Hardouin Mansart (the same architect who designed the incredible Hall of Mirrors in Versailles), the Invalides was originally built as a hospital and home for wounded and retired soldiers returning from the king’s wars. The king knew that he owed his glories to his troops, so he ordered a most magnificent building for them. Nowadays, you will still find veterans living here, and the gold-domed Cathedral of St. Louis is the seat of the Bishop of the Armies.
Follow your expert guide on a journey through history. See magnificent Medieval and Renaissance armor; learn how the French and their allies resisted the invading German armies during World War II and how and why Uncle Sam got involved. Discover how the Resistance was organized, how the D-Day landings were coordinated and how they were perceived in Paris – including the story of the British fighter pilots who lived hidden in the dome during the Occupation. Explore the lives of two of the most famous and influential figures of French military history, Charles de Gaulle and Napoleon Bonaparte.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes
Stop At: Cathedrale Saint-Louis des Invalides, 53 boulevard de la Tour Maubourg, 75007 Paris France
Then visit the breathtaking tomb of the most famous general in European history. After crowning himself Emperor in 1804, Napoleon went on to conquer huge swathes of Europe until his final defeat at Waterloo. Exiled until his death in 1821, his body was returned to France and placed here in the enormous sarcophagus built specially for him. His son is also buried next to him, his body brought to Paris by Hitler in 1940.
Join your private guide on this compelling visit to the Invalides on a journey through war, defeat, resistance, and glory.
Duration: 1 hour
Included
- 2.5 hour guided tour of Les Invalides
- Fully accredited local guide
- Main courtyard, artillery collection
- Cathedral of Saint-Louis des Invalides
- Dôme des Invalides, tomb of Napoleon I
- Army Museum Old department, old armour and weapons, 13th - 17th century Modern department, from Louis XIV to Napoleon III, 1643 - 1870 Contemporary department, the Two World Wars 1871-1945
- Guided visit of the Chateau and gardens of Malmaison (if afternoon add on selected)
- Travel to and from Malmaison with your guide in a chauffeur driver car (if afternoon add on selected)
- Entry/Admission - Musee de l’Armee des Invalides
- Entry/Admission - Cathedrale Saint-Louis des Invalides
Not included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking, unless booked within 3 days of travel. In this case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability
- Booking is not required for children under 10
- Note that increased security measures may affect lines as we can't avoid them. However due to our Skip the Line privilege, we do have access to shortcuts to the security check
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Near public transportation
- Most travelers can participate
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
Features
Tourism
95%
Cultural
80%
Reviews
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What a wonderful tour. Our guide was incredibly intelligent and knowledgeable about not just French history, but world history. The Invalides is a wonderful museum and the tour took us through several hundred years of military history. Fascinating! It was a wonderful morning - highly recommend it!!