Musée de l'Armée - Hôtel National des Invalides

The Army Museum was founded in 1905 and is located in the prestigious Hôtel National des Invalides in the heart of Paris.

The museum houses priceless collections from the Middle Ages to the modern day which allow visitors to gain a better understanding of France's military history through a fully modernised tour: armour and coats of arms, swords, artillery, uniforms, emblems, paintings, photographs, historical figures' personal belongings and more.

The diversity and size of the collections as well as the period of time that they cover make the Army Museum one of the world's most significant art and military history museums. The Eglise du Dôme (Dome Church) houses Napoleon I's monumental tomb, that of his son Aiglon and also the tombs of famous military leaders such as Turenne, Vauban and Foch.

The Historial Charles de Gaulle (Charles de Gaulle Monument)has offered an interactive multimedia space dedicated to this great public figure.

Spotlight on Families

Discover François I's armour, the superstitions of Louis XIV (who ordered that the French flag be changed so that his soldiers could be identified more easily), as well as medals, paintings, weapons, uniforms and the famous tomb of Napoleon: an immense block of red quartzite in which the Emperor has lain since 2 April 1861.

Housed in the Hôtel National des Invalides, the Army Museum displays a large collection of works of art and memorabilia, helping visitors to rediscover the history of France in an extraordinary and enjoyable way.

Highlights:

Suitable for everyone.

Note:

Hire a multimedia guide containing 5 trails aimed at younger visitors covering all of the collections (ages 7 and over, in French and English).

Opening and closing times

From 01/04 to 31/03, daily between 10 am and 6 pm. Closed exceptionally on January 1st, May 1st and December 25th. The Musée de l'Armée is being renovated to give you a better welcome from June 2024. During the works, the Museum will remain open, with a few changes to the itinerary.

Ticket office: on arrival, please go to the Museum ticket office located near the Dôme des Invalides to the south of the site: open daily from 10am to 5:30pm (8:30pm on the first Friday of each month).

The extra ordinary cabinets : due to the Museum's extension and modernisation works, all the unusual cabinets are closed until June 2024.

Opening times for the south entrance: The south entrance via Place Vauban is open from 2pm to 6pm. Opening times for the north entrance at 129 rue Grenelle (esplanade des Invalides) remain unchanged, from 10am to 6pm (10pm on the first Friday of each month).

Payment methods accepted

• Bank/credit card
• Cash
• Contactless payment

Reception

Additional information

• Cloakroom: free on presentation of a museum admission ticket
• - Lifts throughout the tour. Please note that the church of the Dome (tomb of Napoleon I) is not accessible to people with reduced mobility.
• - Loan of wheelchairs
• - Cash dispenser - in the lobby of the ticket office on the Place Vauban side
• - Food and drink
• Le carré des Invalides" café restaurant - south ticketing counter level, Place Vauban side.
• - The café restaurant is open every day :
• from 9am to 7pm, from 1 April to 31 October
• from 9am to 6pm, from 1st November to 31st March
• The café restaurant is closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
• - Salon de thé Angelina - a stone's throw from the tomb of Napoleon I - offers a selection of pastries and hot and cold drinks, including the famous hot chocolate for which the restaurant is famous.
• Open from April to October, from 11am to 6pm (until 9pm on Tuesdays during the night), the tearoom is accessible from the Nîmes corridor, opposite the bookshop-boutique.
• - The bookshop is open from November 1st to March 31st, Monday to Friday, from 1pm to 5pm / Saturday and Sunday, from 11am to 5pm. From April 1st to October 31st, Monday to Friday, 1pm to 6pm / Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 6pm. Closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December.
• - Documents for young people - numerous presentation sheets, object sheets, documents and game books for young people can be downloaded from the museum's website

Visits

Services and facilities

Languages

Additional information

The entrance ticket gives access to the Musée de l'Armée, the Dôme (tomb of Napoleon I), the current temporary exhibition as well as the Musée des Plans-Reliefs and the Musée de l'Ordre de la Libération.

Conditions for individual and group visits:
Several thematic visits from 20 to 25 people / 17€ per person and day and 35€ per person after closing.
Duration: from 1h30 to 1h45.
The fee includes admission to the museum (permanent collections and temporary exhibitions) and the conference fee.
Reservations are required: https://www.cultival.fr/recherche/visites/public_groupe/site_hotel-des-invalides-musee-de-larmee-200
by phone: 0825 05 44 05 (0,15 € TTC per minute);
by e-mail: [email protected]

Accessibility