Louis XIV commissioned this building, the first national hospital for soldiers, to help out war veterans. The resulting structure, with its gilded dome—meant to be France's answer to St. Peter's in Rome—is a masterpiece of 17th-century classical French architecture. But the main attraction is Napoleon's Tomb: This enormous crypt contains six coffins placed one inside the other, nesting-doll-style, with the emperor in the center coffin. The complex is also a military museum, containing flags, banners, swords, medals, armor and other items from French military history, including some of Napoleon's personal possessions. A museum with exhibits on Charles de Gaulle and World War II is also worth seeing in the Invalides complex. October-March daily 10 am-5 pm; April-September daily 10 am-6 pm (Tuesday till 9 pm). Closed the first Monday of the month. 8 euros adults. Place des Invalides (7th; Metro Invalides), Paris. Phone 01-4442-3877. http://www.invalides.org.
