The Invalides in Paris

Probably the best looking nursing home ever built! The Invalides was originally a hospital and home for wounded or elderly soldiers, and now houses the military museum and the tomb of Napoleon (among others). It has also retained its function as a hospital and home for disabled war veterans. The famous dome is actually part of a chapel that was an afterthought but I think the dome (inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome) provides striking visual interest to the complex. Without it, it’s pretty much another large-scale building in the Louis XIV style. Today was kind of a surprising great day to take photographs. The sky was a bit ominous but not threatening and the gold of the dome really found its best backdrop I think!

Good ol’ Napoleon:

View of the dome from the nearby Rodin Museum:

Meticulously sculpted shrubbery. Can’t walk on the grass though:

A grass moat! I wanted to jump in and run around:

How to Get There:

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