Best Photo Spots at Les Invalides & Army Museum

Les Invalides is photogenic on a grand scale. Here are the five shots you need to capture.

1. The Symmetry Shot (Pont Alexandre III)

Stand on the Pont Alexandre III. Frame the bridge’s golden nymphs in the foreground with the Dome of Invalides perfectly centered in the background. Sunset is the golden hour here.

2. The Cannon Perspective

Inside the Cour d'Honneur, get low. Shoot down the line of cannons. Use the depth of field to blur the background or keep the Soldier's Church sharp in the distance. The repetition of the wheels creates a great leading line.

3. The Dome Ceiling (Vertical)

Inside the Dome Church, walk exactly to the center (if barriers permit). Look straight up. The fresco by Charles de La Fosse creates a spiraling effect that looks incredible through a wide-angle lens.

4. Napoleon's Tomb from the Balcony

Don't just shoot the tomb from the crypt level. The view from the circular balcony (Ground Floor) looking down emphasizes the scale of the sarcophagus and the beautiful mosaic floor pattern around it.

5. The Topiary Gardens

On the Esplanade side (North), there are perfectly manicured cone-shaped bushes. Frame the severe, classic facade between these green geometric shapes for a very "French Formal Garden" look.