Armistice Day

"This nation will remain the land of the free so long as it is the home of the brave."  

-Elmer Davis

Happy Veteran's Day!!! Thank you to everyone who has served and is serving to keep our country safe. The sacrifices you make are extraordinary and your hard work and courage are beyond belief. I really appreciate everything you do for us. Thank you.

As it's Armistice Day here in France, I thought a trip to the Paris Military Museum, Musée de l'Armée: Hôtel National des Invalides was appropriate. I left early Sunday afternoon and decided to walk as it was a beautiful day. The Museum is located on large beautiful grounds and is quite stunning. After a few wrong turns and missed entrances I came across the museum from the side, and am sure glad I did! From the left side of the museum you have a perfect view of the Tour Eiffel in the distance.

View of the Eiffel Tower, the military museum would be on the left

I didn't have time to see the entire museum so instead visited The Contemporary Department, which focuses on the Two World Wars and the Dôme des Invalides which houses Napoleon's tomb. Although quite large, the museum felt very manageable. Each wing of the museum housed a different era, allowing you to easily choose the sections you would like to view while bypassing the others.

I began with the Contemporary Department. The exhibit was very well done and was laid out by year over a course of a few floors, making it easy to follow. The  evolution of the two wars was very complete, and not only did they have French uniforms, weapons, etc. but they also made sure to encompass a large range of other countries and regions such as Russia, The east (Japan and China), The Army of Africa, European countries and the United States. Therefore, visitors are able to see how uniforms and weapons changed by country over the course of the two wars. I found it very interesting to see what the different country's uniforms were like at the time and how they adapted and changed in meet the demands of the wars they were fighting. The Museum had a few sections on America's involvement with some really interesting pieces, such as WWI Recruitment posters and what an American soldier carried during WWII.

World War I Recruitment Posters

World War II equipment and rations

A little over an hour later, I found myself at the end of the exhibit and headed over to the Dôme des Invalides where Napoleon I's tomb is located. Due to the stunning architecture and details it is known as the Emblem of the Museum. The chapel was built from 1677-1706 under the reign of Louis XIV and is considered one of the best examples of French Baroque Architecture. It was designed by the architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart and was inspired by the Dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

The Military Museum with the Dome behind

During the Revolution, under the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Dome was converted to a Military Pantheon. In 1815, Napoleon was exiled to the British island of Saint Helena outside West Africa by Louis XVIII. Although Napoleon died while in exile,  in 1840 after years of negotiation with the British government, King Louis-Philippe had his remains transferred back to Paris. Today, the Dôme des Invalides houses Napoleon I's tomb along with several other famous French Military officials.

Napoleon's tomb, inside the Basilica, the dome, and a scaled
version of the Dôme des Invalides