The Army Museum — Attraction in Paris

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...

Stunning buildings with amazing artefacts, but a grotesque sense of self-importance Visited on Monday, 21st July 2025, and purchased tickets online in advance to the Army Museum, Golden Dome Church & Napoleon's Tomb. We arrived at Varenne Metro and followed the direction signs, which sent us left, i.e. away from the Seine and towards the golden dome, but the entrance at the end wasn't open, so we ended up having to circumnavigate the whole site, which was a pain. Once entered, we started at the Army Museum, which is vast and focuses on the history of France itself through the story of its army. You could spend all day just in this part of the museum tbh, and though fascinating, you have to pick and choose what you want to focus on as there are so many cannons, for example. To some extent, a lot of the foreign weaponry is a story of conquest and bribery as sultans gifted equipment to Napoleon in an attempt to gain favour, i.e., have this and don't invade. Like a few museums I visited in France, and perhaps it is the case in other countries as well, the focus is very much on French achievement rather than failure, with the Napoleonic aspect of the museum kind of skipping over Waterloo and how Napoleon ended his life as a prisoner. After this, we visited the Golden Dome and Napoleon's (he and his brothers) tomb. Having read in the Army museum some details on the motivations for the idolising of Napoleon by the following governments as a sop/distraction to the general public, it makes your appreciation of the frankly grotesque idolising of the man with re visionist history and in a place of worship to god, a sense of a false prophet/ikon being worshiped. Some of the freezes and aping of Roman Emperor imagery is frankly ridiculous. The size of the tomb definitely gives a sense of someone trying to make up for something, especially when you think he was returned as ashes by the British. Stunning buildings/dome but leaves the visitor with a further sense of a country living in the past and an overall lack...

We had an absolutely fantastic time visiting the Army Museum in Paris! This museum is a treasure trove of history, with an impressive collection that spans several centuries. From the moment we walked in, we were captivated by the breadth and depth of the exhibits, which cover everything from medieval armor to modern warfare.

One of the highlights for us was the stunning collection of armor and weaponry. The displays are incredibly well-preserved and presented in a way that really brings history to life. We also enjoyed exploring the sections dedicated to the World Wars, which were both informative and moving. The museum does an excellent job of combining historical artifacts with multimedia presentations to create a truly engaging experience.

For those planning a visit, I recommend setting aside at least 2-3 hours to fully appreciate everything, as the museum is quite large and there’s so much to see. Arriving early in the day can help you avoid the crowds, especially if you want to take your time in the more popular exhibits. Don’t miss the opportunity to visit Napoleon’s Tomb, which is part of the same complex and makes for a perfect combination with the museum. Consider getting the audio guide, which provides additional context and insights that really enhance the experience. Lastly, since there’s a lot of walking involved, be sure to wear comfortable shoes.

Overall, the Army Museum is a must-visit for anyone interested in military history or just looking for a unique cultural experience in Paris. We left with a deeper appreciation for history and a sense of awe at the incredible artifacts on display. Highly...