France


Paris


Dôme des Invalides - Napoleon Bonaparte's Tomb





 

Summary The Dôme des Invalides is a monumental Baroque structure in Paris, originally commissioned by Louis XIV as part of the Hôtel des Invalides, a complex for wounded soldiers. Designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and completed in 1706, the dome is crowned in gold and stands as one of the tallest church buildings in Paris.  Over time, it evolved from a royal chapel into a national military shrine, most famously housing the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte. Its design blends classical symmetry, Renaissance inspiration, and Baroque grandeur, making it both a religious space and a powerful symbol of French military history.

Commissioned by King Louis XIV (the Sun King) in the late 17th century, the Dôme des Invalides was designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart as the royal chapel of the Hôtel des Invalides, a complex originally built to house wounded and retired soldiers. The dome was completed in 1706 and remained the tallest building in Paris until the erection of the Eiffel Tower in 1887/1889.

Reaching a height of 107 meters (351 feet), making it the tallest church building in Paris. The Exterior of the dome was sheathed with over 12 kilograms of gold leaf, making it a beacon across the city and a dazzling tribute to the Sun King’s grandeur.

Sitting on top of a centralized plan inspired by Roman and Renaissance models, the dome contains a lantern that floods the interior of the building space with light.  The dome’s symmetry, use of columns, and centralized plan echo Roman imperial architecture, particularly the Pantheon. This classical influence reinforces the building’s solemnity and timelessness. Inspired by St Peters Basilica in the Vatican, Rome, the Dôme features a triple-shell structure and a lantern that floods the interior with light, a hallmark of Renaissance innovation in sacred architecture.

The inside of the dome features a magnificent Baroque ceiling painting by Charles de La Fosse, a student of Charles Le Brun. The illusionistic fresco depicts the glory of Saint Louis ascending to heaven.

 

Originally intended as a royal chapel, the Dôme evolved into a pantheon of military glory. In 1840, it became the final resting place of Napoleon Bonaparte, when his remains were repatriated from Saint Helena and his tomb placed directly beneath the dome. The tomb itself was completed and inaugurated by Napoleon III on April 2, 1861.  Over time, it also came to house the remains of other figures, including Napoleon II.   

Born on March 20, 1811, Napoleon II was the only legitimate son of Napoleon I and Empress Marie Louise of Austria. Though he was briefly declared Emperor of the French in 1815 after his father’s second abdication, His reign lasted just twenty days, from June 22 to July 7, and was purely nominal. He died at age 21 in 1832 at Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna. In 1940, his remains were transferred to Les Invalides in Paris, where he now rests near his father.
 

The building also houses the remains of such famous soldiers as Marshals Foch and Lyautey.  

Marshal Ferdinand Foch (1851–1929) is best known as the Supreme Allied Commander during the final phase of World War I. His leadership was instrumental in coordinating the Allied forces and securing victory on the Western Front. He was buried at Les Invalides, near Napoleon’s tomb, a testament to his national stature.
 

Marshal Lyautey, was recognized for his service and influence in 1921 and was interred at Les Invalides, near Napoleon’s tomb, a symbolic gesture that placed him among France’s most revered military figures.

 

Also interred in the Dôme des Invalides is Sébastien Le Prestre de Vauban (1633–1707), known simply as Vauban. He was a brilliant French military engineer and strategist who served under Louis XIV and revolutionized the design of fortifications and siege warfare, leaving a legacy that shaped European military architecture for centuries.  Originally he was buried at Bazoches, but in 1808, Napoleon ordered his heart interred at Les Invalides, thus recognizing him as a national hero.

 

Henri de La Tour d’Auvergne, Vicomte de Turenne is better known simply as Turenne and was one of France’s greatest military commanders.  In 1800, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered Turenne’s remains to be transferred to the Dôme as part of his effort to turn the site into a pantheon of military glory. Turenne’s sarcophagus is positioned along the outer wall of the dome’s interior, not far from the central tomb of Napoleon himself. This position reflects the high esteem in which he was held, even centuries after his death in 1675. Turenne served under Louis XIII and Louis XIV and was known for his brilliant campaigns during the Thirty Years’ War and the Franco-Spanish War. His military genius, loyalty to the crown, and eventual conversion to Catholicism made him a model of royal service in the eyes of later monarchs—and of Napoleon, who admired him deeply.

 

Joseph-Napoléon Bonaparte, the elder brother of Napoleon I, is also buried at Les Invalides. Born in 1768, Joseph was made King of Naples in 1806 and later King of Spain in 1808, though his reigns were marked by instability and resistance. After Napoleon’s fall, Joseph lived in exile, first in the United States, then in Italy, where he died in 1844. His remains were eventually transferred to Les Invalides, placing him among France’s most prominent military and imperial figures. His tomb is more modest than his brother’s, but its location within the Dôme underscores his role in the Napoleonic dynasty. 

 

Jérôme Bonaparte, the youngest brother of Napoleon I, is also buried at Les Invalides, alongside other prominent members of the Bonaparte family. Born in 1784 in Corsica, Jérôme led a colourful life as a naval officer, King of Westphalia, and later a Marshal of France under his nephew, Napoleon III. His reign in Westphalia (1807–1813) was marked by attempts to modernize the kingdom along Napoleonic lines, though it was short-lived due to the collapse of the Napoleonic empire. After years in exile, Jérôme returned to France during the Second Empire and was restored to honours and titles. He died in 1860, and his burial at Les Invalides reflects his enduring place in the Napoleonic legacy.

During the French Revolution, the dome was briefly re-purposed as a temple to Mars, and in World War II, it served as a shelter for Allied pilots.

The Crypt itself is Circular in shape and requires visitors to look down onto the sarcophagus of Napoleon, a deliberate design choice that forces them into a posture of reverence.

 

The sarcophagus itself is made of Shoksha quartzite from Russia, a material reminiscent of Roman emperors’ burial traditions, reinforcing Napoleon’s self-image as a modern Caesar. The sarcophagus rests on a green granite base from the Vosges. Beneath it lies a black marble slab from Sainte-Luce. It sits within an open crypt beneath the soaring dome, surrounded by a circular gallery adorned with sculptures depicting Napoleon’s achievements.  Its soaring height and gilded finish reflect divine authority and eternal glory.

Ten large reliefs by Pierre-Charles Simart depict Napoleon’s achievements, including the Code Civil, Concordat, and Légion d’Honneur.

   
 

The interior is Lavishly decorated with Baroque frescoes by Charles de La Fosse, including a dramatic ceiling painting of Saint Louis presenting his sword to Christ.

Encircling the tomb are Twelve figures representing Napoleon’s military victories, thus ensuring his legacy is framed by triumph.

 

Within the central area is the Royal Chapel which was commissioned by Louis XIV as a grand architectural statement of divine kingship and military prestige. Designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart and completed in 1706, it was intended as a place where the king could worship apart from the soldiers, yet still within the same complex. The chapel is a masterpiece of French Baroque architecture: It was designed to function as part of the adjacent Cathedral of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides. A large opening which was later fitted with a glass partition, allowed the king and his court to attend mass in the royal chapel while soldiers worshipped in the cathedral, during the same service.  In the 19th century, the chapel was repurposed as a military pantheon.