Neighbor Napoleon

So I have lived in the 7arr. for quite along time and I have always admired Hôtel des Invalides in passing, but never actually went in, nor explored the grounds. I mean of course I pause for a few moments on my way to the metro and stare at this amazing piece of history, but I didn't really know what it was all about other than an old army hospital for those who came back from the war unfortunately to become homeless veterans and that it was home to Napoleon's tomb. Then one day I was presented with the opportunity to go with Rébecca, one of my little cupcakes I watch after. We had a wonderful picnic on an absolutely beautiful Parisian summer afternoon…

To my surprise L'Hôtel des Invalides also houses a museum, of course dedicated to wartime memorabilia, memorials, and war leaders like Général Charles de Gaulle. "Musée de l'Armée" is fully loaded.. including maps, weapons (daggers, swords, riffles, spears, more firearms and the list goes on..) uniforms, medallions, banners, and more. The museum is bursting with information (it goes all the way back to the Stone Age up to WWII) so it can be a bit tiresome. There is a great audiovisual monument dedicated to Charles de Gaulle (the audio tour is free btw). CDG was the man, not only was he a leader in the WWII who helped save France from Nazi Germany by leading the Free French Forces, he helped found the 5th République and served as the first president of it. He was even prime minister and a minister of defense… yes, many would say he did damn well for France.

** a small side note I MUST comment on: is a RUDE museum worker. So when you go in of course you have to pay.. and I was buying my ticket (which if I bought my British passport it would've been free) and this woman selling tickets was clearly having a bad day or miserable because this is what she does everyday. So when in France, do as the French do and give them a piece of your mind just like she did. PFFFF! Anyways, apart from this miserably old bat, all the staff were very nice and POLITE! 

** for those of you europeans reading this, bring your passport if you intend on going to museums while out and about because sometimes it is free, or you get the EU "discount". This only applies if you are 26 and under...

Now onto the main attraction: Neighbor Napoleon! Napoleon Bonaparte, aka Emperor Napoleon, was one of France's greatest army generals. He gained power after the revolution, a time when the country was very unstable. He centralized power, established laws and reformed the education system. Napoleon asked for the Dôme church to be built in 1676 for himself and for royal tombs, as there was already a church for the soldiers. Napoleon's visions of this church being dedicated to royal tombs disappeared after he died in 1821 in exile. Today it is a French military memorial (like the rest of Hôtel des Invalides) and houses the tomb of Joseph Bonaparte (Napoleon's older brother, King of Naples, King of Spain) the heart of Vauban (Napoleon's great military architect and engineer, Sébastian le Prestre de Vauban), the tomb of Marshal Foch (Ferdinand Foch, a French military leader), the tomb of St. Jérôme (Napoleon's younger brother, King of Westphalia) and of course Napoleon's crypt itself. Napoleon's remains were brought back from St. Helena for the reconciliation for the Bonapartist and Republican parties… Napoleon's body is in encased in 6 coffins and then finally placed in the crypt. Let me tell you it is huge and rather odd looking, but wow 6 coffins! He must of been loved by the French!

et voilà quoi!