Just another day in Architecture

So for architecture today we went to Hotel des Invalides. This is a place that was built in 1674 under Louis the XIV to house and care for the veterans who returned from the war. The site is now a museum, working building for the government, and still functions as a church for veterans of war. This first photograph is of the soldiers church, where a service had in fact just taken place. The flags that you see up along the top are flags captured by the French army since the time of the Revolution. They are showing all the battles won, and places conquered.

  

 This next photograph is inside the double, dome roof which is where the King sat during services. The ceiling was in fact painted on and covered with gold for the King's delight.

   

What is crazy about this photo is that it is the tomb of Napoleon!!! I was in shock. The tomb itself is massive, it is seven layers thick, housing the body of the famous conqueror. It originally was under the ground of the church; however, it has now been dug out so that we can in fact see the tomb. Around him are names of famous battles he won, and in various rooms in the church his son, and brother, are also buried.

This is the outside (and the back) of the Hotel des Invalides. This is the dome church in which all the photograph's above were taken. This was such a beautiful place to visit, filled with history and culture. I really want to come back and go to the museum!!!