Don’t Just Check In! The Treasures of Les Invalides Are Here in Paris

Due to work, I only had 7.5 hours in Paris, and I squeezed in 2h45min for Les Invalides without eating or drinking. I regretted it as soon as I came out; I should have skipped the eastern wing entirely and just visited the western wing on the ground floor. 🏛️ About Les Invalides! Most tour groups and individual visitors come to Les Invalides to see the grand tomb of Napoleon and his wife Joséphine. If it’s your first time, sure, you can check that off your list. But I think Les Invalides, as a second-tier famous Parisian landmark, is a must-visit if you’re interested in medieval culture, knight armor, and such. After buying your ticket at the eastern wing, cross the square to the western wing! 📚 Overview: 1️⃣ The eastern wing mostly displays pre-World War I French military attire, firearms, and related exhibits (the old toy soldiers are quite interesting). The exhibition hall has a lower ceiling, but the decorative colors and the style of the exhibition are quite classy; (not essential, about an hour should do it). 2️⃣ The colonnade outside is great for posing for photos; the western wing’s 1st and 2nd floors document World War I and II. There are some items, but not many. I’ve seen so many military museums in Germany and the Netherlands over the past two years that are more intense than this. And considering how old Les Invalides is, you can’t expect to fit a few tens of tons of iron cans in this old building! (There’s one early prototype parked in the hallway); (it’s whatever if you see it or not). 3️⃣ Napoleon’s tomb, including the -1 level and the rooms at the four corners, 40 minutes is enough. Head to the opposite corner of the entrance as you face the square. Straight ahead is the military church (there are Manchu battle flags inside, take off your hat and be quiet). 4️⃣ Here’s the highlight 🚩🚩🚩: The medieval armor exhibition hall is huge, with a U-shaped structure. Even a quick walk-through takes about fifty minutes. There’s a vast collection of medieval European armor (even a small selection from Japan, Qing, Ottoman, etc.). The racks gleam with a cold light, dazzling your eyes. It’s all material, all patterns; my camera finger was numbing, and I didn’t have time to worry about composition, just capturing the raw data. Ladies won’t be bored either; the armor is sectioned and explained by historical timeline, material evolution, usage grade, and texture style. Ancient weapons are today’s art and craft. Remember, if you go to Les Invalides, don’t forget to visit this exhibit. Oh, and a gentle reminder to tour groups taking group photos in the square: could you please not shout continuously? It’s not a good look. #museum #scifi #mecha #ParisTravel #FranceTravel #medieval #knight #WorldOfWarcraft #horsebackRiding #LesInvalides