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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Sylvie Corbet

Paris’ Invalides is more than Napoleon’s tomb. For 350 years, it been a home for war wounded

France The Sun King's Hospital - (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

World-famous as the resting place of Napoleon, the gilded dome of the Invalides in Paris draws millions of visitors. But behind the landmark’s grand façade lies a lesser-known mission: serving as a home and hospital for wounded soldiers and victims of war for more than 350 years.

Built in the 17th century under King Louis XIV, the National Institution of Invalides houses dozens of residents — among them military veterans, Holocaust survivors and civilian victims of conflicts and attacks who receive long-term, medically supervised care.

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