Architecture of Les Invalides: From Hospital to Monument

Commissioned by Louis XIV (the Sun King) in 1670, the Hotel des Invalides was a revolutionary project. Its purpose? To care for wounded and veteran soldiers who had fought for France. It was a hospital, a hospice, and a church all in one.

The Dual Church Design

One of the most unique features of Les Invalides is its "double church."

1. The Dome Church (Eglise du Dôme): Reserved for the King and royal family. This is where the magnificent golden dome is.
2. The Soldiers' Church (Saint-Louis des Invalides): For the veterans. Originally, the two were connected, allowing the King and the soldiers to attend mass at the same time but through different entrances, maintaining protocol.

The Facade and Courtyard

The northern facade is 196 meters long, imposing and strictly symmetrical—a hallmark of French Classicism.

• The Main Arch: Above the main entrance stands a statue of Louis XIV, flanked by Justice and Prudence.
• Cour d'Honneur: This vast courtyard is the ceremonial heart of the complex. It is lined with two tiers of arcades and dozens of historic cannons.

The Golden Dome

Designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart, the Dome is 107 meters high. It was intended to rival St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The gold leaf is real and has been restored several times, most recently in 1989. It serves as a beacon, visible from across Paris.

Mansart's genius was in creating two domes stacked on top of each other.

• Inner Dome: The one you see from the inside, with the painting. It has a hole in the center (an oculus).
• Outer Dome: The tall, lead-and-gold structure you see from the outside.
• The Trick: Light comes in through windows hidden between the two shells, illuminating the painted ceiling of the inner dome so it looks like it is glowing with divine light.

Preservation

Today, the building still serves its original purpose in part. The Institution Nationale des Invalides still houses war veterans and provides medical care in wings of the complex that are closed to the public. When you visit, you are walking through a living institution.