“Flags. Captured flags.” Did you notice them adorning the nave of the Cathedral Saint-Louis-des-Invalides?
Welcome to the Cathedral Saint-Louis-des-Invalides. It is the cathedral of the French Army Diocese since 1986. Before that, from 1957 it was the seat of the vicar to the armies. This cathedral stands within Les Invalides. Les Invalides is the home for French army veterans.
King Louis XIV commissioned this cathedral. Jules Hardouin-Mansart started building it in 1676. He followed a concept of Liberal Bruant. Bruant was the architect of the larger Invalides project. The Cathedral Saint-Louis-des-Invalides opened to soldiers in 1679.
The clock tower next to it had a purpose. It called soldiers to morning and evening prayer. Soldiers had to attend mass on Sundays and holidays.
The Cathedral Saint-Louis-des-Invalides adjoins the Dome Church of Les Invalides. The Dome Church holds the tomb of Napoleon and other French monarchs. Both the king and his soldiers could attend masses. They entered through different gates. The king used the entrance to the Dome. Soldiers entered through the courtyard.
Later, Napoleon’s tomb was built in the Dome. A glass roof was installed in 1873. It definitively separated the two parts of the building. The Dome became the Military Pantheon. The Cathedral Saint-Louis remains consecrated.
Louis XIV wanted a chapel for the residents’ spiritual well-being. He dedicated it to Saint Louis. Thus, the Church of Saint Louis des Invalides was also a parish church. Since Napoleon, the cathedral’s vault has displayed military trophies. These flags belonged to enemies of France.
Even today, masses, funerals, weddings, and baptisms happen here. The Armed Forces celebrate their patron saint here. They also remember their deceased. Every year, commemorative masses take place. One marks the anniversary of Napoleon I’s death. Another remembers the founding of the Hotel des Invalides.
The Cathedral Saint-Louis-des-Invalides also hosts the Concerts of the Invalides. The residents of the National Institution of the Invalids are the first to attend the Cathedral Saint-Louis-des-Invalides.
The organs of the Cathedral Saint-Louis-des-Invalides are famous. They were built between 1679 and 1687. Germain Pilon made their case. He was the king’s ordinary carpenter. Hardouin-Mansart created the drawing for it.
As you leave, remember this cathedral’s history. It stands near the military Pantheon. It is also close to the Army Museum. Together they provide an experience open to eternity. The Cathedral Saint-Louis-des-Invalides is not just a building. It is a solemn place. It holds centuries of history.