Invalides
Friday, July 4th, 2008
Invalides is a military museum chronicling WWI, WWII and the medieval wars especially that of Napoleon Bonaparte’s conquests. There are many collections and memorabilia but the one I like best is the Medieval room which is devoted to the wars of the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries exhibiting armour and military weapons, and in particular a remarkable collection of swords. The great emperor Napoleon Bonaparte has a tomb inside in what is called the Dome Church which has been converted into a military pantheon. Surrounded by other great military leaders, the emperor is encased in successive 5 coffins, one made of tin, one of mahogany, two of lead and one of ebony. And in 1989, the massive golden dome and its decorations directly above Napoleon’s sarcophagus were re-gilded using 12 kilograms of gold! Remarkable!
