To mark the 41st Journées du Patrimoine, theHôtel des Invalides, home to the Musée de l'Armée, is organizing tours, family events and other workshops on September 21 and 22, 2024. A unique experience for the whole family, to learn all about the history of this Parisian cultural and military institution!
Located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris, the Hôtel des Invalides is an emblematic monument of the capital, whose construction was ordered by Louis XIV. The Sun King wanted to offer French soldiers wounded in battle a place to rest and live. The monument also houses a military necropolis, a cathedral and a museum dedicated to the Army and war.
This unique site boasts a number of cultural and architectural treasures that are a must-see. You can admire the tomb of Napoleon I, a panoramic view of Paris from the lantern, exceptional frescoes painted on the monument's dome...
Today, the Invalides and the Musée des Armées regularlyoffer exhibitions, workshops, concerts, themed tours, games, shows and many other events to showcase the monument and its rich history. Why not discover all this during the Journées du Patrimoine?
FREE VISIT
Les Invalides: between history and memories
Opened in July 2024 after a major renovation project, this new tour explores the 350-year history of the Hôtel national des Invalides. Over 400m2 of innovative scenography, an immersive space and exceptional works of art allow you to immerse yourself in the life of this extraordinary monument, and to meet the great figures of Les Invalides, including Louis XIV, its founder.
This tour is the first stage of the MINERVE project to extend and transform the Musée de l'Armée, which will continue until 2030, with the opening of new permanent spaces and the modernization of visitor reception conditions.
Aile Orient, level 0
The Society of Friends of the Musée de l'Armée (SAMA)
In the Cour d'Honneur, volunteers from the Society of Friends of the Musée de l'Armée present the aims of the Society, its history, its activities and its support for the Museum.
In the Museum's 1914-1945 collections, a SAMA member presents visitors with his father's 1931 officer's uniform.
Cour d'Honneur and Salle Foch - free admission - Saturday and Sunday, 10am-6pm
The Department of Remembrance, Culture and Archives (DMCA)
The DMCA of the Ministry of the Armed Forces is involved in defining and implementing State policy in the field of remembrance of contemporary conflicts (wars from 1870 to the present day). The DMCA oversees the conservation, maintenance and restoration of the Ministry of the Armed Forces' memorial sites in mainland France and around the world (national necropolises, national memorial sites, military squares in communal cemeteries, burial sites abroad). Thanks to a virtual reality headset, visitors can discover these places of remembrance. The DMCA is also setting up a remembrance education program. In particular, this is based on supporting and promoting the defense education mission, actively involving schoolchildren in commemorations, encouraging them to discover places of remembrance, and providing teachers with appropriate resources.
Salle Turenne, level 0 - free admission - Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm.
The command doctrine and teaching center (CDEC)
7th Parisian military history book fair
On the occasion of the 41ᵉ edition of the European Heritage Days, the French Army invites you to meet civilian and military authors who think, write and illustrate the battles of yesterday, today and tomorrow. In an uncertain and complex world, thought is the essential and necessary condition for a proper understanding of reality and the transformations of war.
This 7th edition aims to meet the expectations of an ever-increasing number of visitors of all ages, by offering a wide choice of works: biographies, stories, comic strips, essays, novels...
Authors will be happy to talk with the public and sign their works.
Cour d'honneur - free admission - Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm.
TEMPORARY PRESENTATION
Sport and culture at the 1968 Games: the work of Jean Dewasne
Following France's failure at the 1960 Games in Rome, General de Gaulle launched a major reform to revitalize French sport. The 1968 Grenoble Games were also the focus of an ambitious cultural policy, symbolized by the commissioning of artist Jean Dewasne to create a set for the Ice Stadium.
Free admission during the European Heritage Days
Aile Orient - Historial Charles de Gaulle, level -1
Direction générale de la sécurité extérieure (DGSE)
The DGSE is proud to be taking part in this year's European Heritage Days at the Musée de l'Armée. These two days give us the opportunity to showcase some of our heritage collections, and to interact with the ever-popular and inquisitive public.
This year's theme, "heritage of routes, networks and connections", will feature several presentations on our stand. Always eagerly awaited by visitors to the Musée de l'Armée, historic Enigma machines will be on display, and their operation explained via a contemporary replica.
Salle Turenne, level 0 - free admission - Saturday and Sunday, 10am to 6pm
Fédération française des véhicules d'époque (FFVE)
Founded in 1967, the FFVE is a French association recognized as being in the public interest. Today, it federates over 1,000 member clubs, 500 professionals, 45 museums and represents over 400,000 collectors, owners of over one million vintage vehicles.
Its missions are to federate, encourage, develop and coordinate initiatives in France for the restoration, maintenance and use of vintage vehicles of all kinds. Six models, on display in the Cour d'Honneur at Les Invalides, bear witness to a pre-war rolling industrial heritage, and showcase the many rare/art trades involved in restoring vintage vehicles.
Cour d'Honneur - free admission - Saturday and Sunday, 10am-6pm.
TEMPORARY PRESENTATION
Military and sports. It's a match made in heaven!
The hardening of combatants has always been a preoccupation of commanders, but was institutionalized as early as 1852 with the creation of the Joinville national military gymnastics school, the origin of the famous "Joinville Battalion" and today's Centre national des sports de la Défense (CNSD). The inclusion of sporting activities within the armed forces serves three purposes: physical training for soldiers, reconstruction through the reintegration of wounded servicemen and women, and the promotion of the nation through high-level sport.
Through its collections and loans from various champions, the Musée de l'Armée de Paris deciphers the close links between the military institution and the world of sport.
The "Militaires et sportifs. Ça match! is organized with the support of Lepape and Unéo.
Free admission during the European Heritage Days
Aile Orient, level 0
IN THE CORRIDORS OF THE INVALID
Caring for our collections
Take a guided tour of three different sites and meet the teams responsible for the restoration of metal objects, textiles and preventive conservation. They'll tell you all about their skills and know-how. In the workshops, discover the gestures, techniques and tools used to accomplish their mission.
Saturday and Sunday - rendez-vous in the main courtyard
From age 10
Textile workshop at 11 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 5 pm (duration: 45 min)
Metal workshop at 11 am, 2:30 pm and 4 pm (duration: 1 hour)
Preventive conservation and pedestal workshop at 11 am, 1:30 pm, 3:30 pm and 5 pm (duration: 45 min)
Free activity on reservation by form on the Museum website (from 26/08/2024 to 08/09/2024) or on site the same day, subject to availability (groups of 15).
WITH THE FAMILY
Creative activity Learn to work with leather!
As a family, young visitors can learn about leather restoration techniques and practice a few stitches on a piece to take away later.
Saturday and Sunday at 11am, 1pm, 2:30pm, 4pm - salle Niox
For 7-12 year olds
Groups of 5 children and 5 adults - meet in the courtyard
Free activity on reservation required on the Museum website (from 26/08/2024 to 08/09/2024) subject to availability .
GUIDED TOURS
Let the Invalides and the Musée de l'Armée surprise you
Through the collections of the Musée de l'Armée, visitors discover the history of the Hôtel national des Invalides. Surprises and discussions are the order of the day on these guided tours!
Saturday and Sunday at 11:30, 14:00, 15:00, 16:00 and 17:00 (duration: 1 hour) - rendez-vous in the cour d'honneur
Free activity on reservation by form on the Museum website (from 26/08/2024 to 08/09/2024) or on site the same day, subject to availability (groups of 20 people).
WITH THE FAMILY
Creative activity Pop-up des Invalides
The Hôtel national des Invalides is full of corridors, windows and sculptures... bring them to life with your own pop-up card.
After a tour of the Invalides, fold, cut and invent your own Dome to better reveal its brilliance!
Saturday and Sunday from 2pm to 6pm - salle Turenne
From 3 years
Continuous activity, free on site on the day, subject to availability.
Behind the scenes of the immersive film:
l'Hôtel national des Invalides, in space and time
In the new spaces dedicated to the history of the Invalides site, an immersive film is presented, inviting visitors to experience the history of the monument through two spectacular sequences, for a journey through space and time.
On the occasion of the European Heritage Days, graphic designer Ekin Koca and director Corentin Cholley will be giving the public a behind-the-scenes look at the making of this film.
Salle Turenne, level 0 - free admission - Saturday and Sunday, 2pm to 6pm (2 presentations per hour)
CONCERT
Orchestre d'harmonie de la musique de l'Air et de l'Espace
Conductor: Claude Kesmaecker
Saturday: public rehearsal at 2:30 pm and concert at 4:30 pm
All audiences | duration: 45 minutes
Cathédrale Saint-Louis des Invalides | Free admission (subject to availability)
CONCERT
Organ recital: Elke Eckerstorfer pays tribute to Anton Bruckner
With the support of the Austrian Cultural Forum
All audiences | duration: 1h
Sunday: concert at 4:30pm
Cathédrale Saint-Louis des Invalides | Free admission (subject to availability)
Dates and Opening Time
From September 21, 2024 to September 22, 2024
Location
Army Museum
129 rue de Grenelle
75007 Paris 7
Prices
Free
Official website
www.musee-armee.fr
