Les Invalides: Napoleon & French Military History Semi-Private Tour

Enjoy a 2.5-hour semi-private guided visit to perhaps the most spectacular building on the Paris skyline, the incredible gold-domed Invalides. Covered with 26lbs of real gold, the Invalides is home to the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte and the fascinating museum of the army, tracing the history of the French armies and their allies from the jousts of kings, through invasion and resistance to the Normandy landings of WWII.

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. The Invalides is also home to the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte and the fascinating museum of the army, tracing the history of the French armies and their allies from the jousts of kings, through invasion and resistance to the Normandy landings of WWII. Nowadays you will still find veterans living there, and the gold-domed Cathedral of St. Louis is the seat of the Bishop of the Armies.

Your expert guide will take you on a historical journey. Hear of the exploits of General Bonaparte and learn how he became Emperor Napoleon, and hear how two British pilots were hidden in this very structure during La Resistance under German occupation in the 1940s. 

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 guide on this compelling visit to the Invalides, and journey through war, defeat, resistance, and glory.

• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your departure time
• Infants aged 0-3 years are free of charge and do not require a booking
• You can cancel your tour up to 24 hours prior to departure and receive a full refund. Please note that refunds are not possible for missed tours.
• If you plan to arrive at the meeting point by taxi, please ensure you leave yourselves plenty of time, it can often take a considerable amount of time to find a taxi in Paris!

• Napoleon and Invalides Tour
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• Main courtyard, military museum and artillery collection
• Small groups of 8 people or fewer
• 2.5 hour guided tour of Les Invalides
• Fully accredited local guide
• Dôme des Invalides, tomb of Napoleon I
• Cathedral of Saint-Louis des Invalides

• Hotel pickup and drop-off

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• Please meet your guide 15 minutes prior to the starting time of the tour. Note the meeting point is not at the entrance to the Invalides.
• Please note this voucher does not give you access to the Invalides Museum, your guide will have the entry tickets with them at the meeting point.
• Please present your booking voucher on your cell phone to your guide at the meeting point. You do not need to print it.

Please be advised..

• This Tour is Provided by Memories France.
• Tour Timezone & Starts at Europe/Paris.
• Mobile or paper ticket accepted.
• For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
• This Tour is Rated 4.5 Stars based on 20 valid reviews on VIATOR.
• Minimum 1 Travelers is required to book.
• Maximum 15 Travelers is accepted for booking.