Musée de l’Armée & Napoleon’s Tomb

Last updated: February 2026 · Prices and details verified

Is the Musée de l’Armée included in the Paris Museum Pass?

Yes — the Paris Museum Pass covers the entire Invalides complex, saving you €17 per person. No reservation required — one pass entry covers the Musée de l’Armée, Napoleon’s Tomb, the Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération, and the Musée des Plans-Reliefs.

Is Musée de l’Armée Included in the Paris Museum Pass?

Four separate museums are included under one pass entry: the permanent military history collections, the Dôme Church housing Napoleon’s tomb, the Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération, and the Musée des Plans-Reliefs with its extraordinary scale models of French fortified towns.

No reservation required. No timed-entry reservation needed. Walk in at the main entrance on the Esplanade des Invalides (129 Rue de Grenelle) or via the Dôme entrance at 2 Place Vauban. The museum is open daily — one of the few major pass venues with no closure day.

Note: The Invalides complex is enormous — budget at least 3 hours for a thorough visit. The Historial Charles de Gaulle is closed every Monday. On the first Monday of each month only the Dôme Church and a limited selection of galleries are open. The first Friday of each month: late opening until 10pm at a reduced rate of €10 (pass holders enter free as always).

What to See — Collection Highlights

The Musée de l’Armée holds over 500,000 objects spanning Bronze Age weapons to 20th-century warfare — one of the most comprehensive military collections in the world. The complex was built by Louis XIV in 1670 as a hospital and retirement home for wounded soldiers.

Highlight 1
Napoleon’s Tomb — the 18-tonne red porphyry sarcophagus beneath the golden dome, surrounded by carved victories and the tombs of his marshals

Highlight 2
Medieval and Renaissance arms and armour — the royal armour collection of the Kings of France, including full suits of field armour and tournament equipment from the 15th–17th centuries

Highlight 3
The World Wars galleries — one of the most detailed accounts of the two World Wars in any French museum, including the Historial Charles de Gaulle, a multimedia history of the General and of Free France

Suggested Itinerary — 3 Hours

The Invalides complex is a full half-day. Prioritise Napoleon’s tomb first (the most visited section), then the medieval arms gallery, then the WWI/WWII halls.

10:00am

Dôme Church — Napoleon’s Tomb

Enter from Place Vauban on the south side. The golden dome is the most recognisable feature of the Paris skyline. Inside: Napoleon’s monumental red porphyry sarcophagus beneath the painted cupola, surrounded by the tombs of his family and marshals. Allow 30–45 minutes.

10:45am

Medieval and Renaissance arms gallery

The collection of royal arms and armour is extraordinary — full suit armour of the Kings of France, samurai armour, tournament lances. One of the finest arms collections in the world. Allow 45 minutes.

11:30am

World Wars galleries and Historial Charles de Gaulle

The WWI and WWII sections are detailed and affecting, with authentic uniforms, weapons, maps, and personal effects. The Historial Charles de Gaulle uses light and sound to tell the story of the Resistance. Allow 45–60 minutes.

Practical Tips

Tip 1

Enter from the Dôme entrance on Place Vauban (south side) if Napoleon’s tomb is your priority — it gets you there immediately without walking the length of the courtyards.

Tip 2

Your single pass entry covers four separate museums within the complex: the Armée, Napoleon’s Tomb, the Ordre de la Libération, and the Plans-Reliefs. This is one of the best-value stops on the entire pass.

Tip 3

The Musée Rodin is a 10-minute walk east along Rue de Varenne — a natural afternoon pairing after a morning at the Invalides.

Getting There

Musée de l’Armée — Fast Facts

Address	129 Rue de Grenelle, 75007 Paris
Nearest Metro	Invalides or La Tour-Maubourg (Metro 8) · Varenne (Metro 13) (Metro 8, 13)
RER	RER C — Invalides
Bus lines	28, 63, 69, 80, 82, 83, 87, 92, 93
Opening hours	Daily 10am–6pm (April–October until 6pm; November–March until 5pm for some sections) · First Friday of the month until 10pm · Closed 1 January, 1 May, 25 December
Closed	Open daily — closed 1 January, 1 May, 25 December. First Monday of month: Historial Charles de Gaulle closed.
Individual ticket	€17 (2026)
With Museum Pass	Free — included
Timed slot required	Not required
Book at	musee-armee.fr/en/your-visit/opening-times-and-prices-1.html
Walking note	10 min walk to Musée Rodin; 20 min walk to Musée d’Orsay

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Frequently Asked Questions

One pass entry covers the entire Invalides complex: the Musée de l’Armée permanent collections and temporary exhibitions, the Dôme Church (Napoleon’s tomb), the Musée de l’Ordre de la Libération, and the Musée des Plans-Reliefs. This is four separate museums under one roof — exceptional value at €17 saving per person.

Budget at least 3 hours for a thorough visit covering the main highlights: Napoleon’s tomb (30–45 min), medieval arms gallery (45 min), and the World Wars galleries (45–60 min). A comprehensive visit of all sections could take a full day. If you’re short on time, prioritise Napoleon’s tomb and the medieval arms gallery — both are exceptional.

No — individual visitors including Museum Pass holders can walk in without a reservation at any time during opening hours. The museum is open daily (unusual among Paris museums) and queues are rarely a problem except during peak summer school holiday weeks. Groups of 20 or more must book in advance.

Yes — Napoleon I’s remains were repatriated from Saint Helena in 1840 and installed in the Dôme Church beneath the golden dome in 1861. The sarcophagus is an 18-tonne block of red quartzite from Siberia, set on a granite base in a circular crypt. The grandeur of the setting was deliberate — Napoleon had expressed wishes to be buried ‘on the banks of the Seine.’ It is one of the most impressive monumental tombs in the world.

The Musée des Plans-Reliefs is a collection of 260 extraordinary scale models of French fortified towns and cities, built between 1668 and 1870 for military planning under Louis XIV. They are extraordinarily detailed — some models are several metres long — and represent a unique window into the geography and architecture of pre-modern France. Entry is included with the Museum Pass and it is one of the most undervisited and fascinating venues in the entire pass collection.

Yes — the Invalides has accessibility measures throughout, including ramps and lifts. The Dôme Church and main collections are wheelchair-accessible. Some sections of the upper-floor galleries may have limited access — check musee-armee.fr for current accessibility details. Free admission for disabled visitors and their accompanying person upon presentation of a valid disability card.