A
masterpiece
of
classical
architecture,
the
Alexander
III
bridge
is
one
of
many
similar
bridges
which
connects
the
Right
Bank
with
the
Left,
here
adjacent
to
the
Grand
Palais
(click
on
the
map
for
details).
Following
the
bridge
directly
from
the
Grand
Palais,
several
blocks
south
(i.e.
from
the
Right to the Left Bank) will lead the pedestrian to the Hôtel des Invalides.
Built
for
the
1900
World’s
Fair,
the
Alexander
III
bridge
consists
of
a
single
surbased
arch
which
thereby
eliminates
any
viewing
obstructions
while
pedestrians
and
motorists
cross.
Additionally,
both
ends
of
the
bridge
are
adorned
by
massive
gold
leaf-covered
statues,
as
are
many
monuments
and points of interest in Paris.
“Les
Invalides”
comprises
the
largest
single
complex
of
monuments
in
Paris,
which
includes
the
Musée
de
l'Armée,
the
Musée
des
Plans-Reliefs,
the
Musée
de
l'Ordre
de
la
Libération
and
L'Eglise
de
St-Louis-des-Invalides,
all
dedicated
to
France’s
war veterans.
In
1670,
Louis
XIV
(the
Sun
King)
founded
Les
Invalides
near
what
was
then
called
the
Grenelle
Plain.
An
old
soldiers
home,
it
was
funded
by
a
five
year
tax
on
the
salaries
of
soldiers
currently
serving
in
the
army
at
that
time.
The
first
stones
were
laid
in
1671
for
what
was
to
become
a
complex
providing
quarters
for
4,000.
Construction
followed
plans
drawn
up
by
Libéral
Bruant,
and
was
completed
in
1676.
Thereafter,
construction
of
the
dome
began
in
1706
and
was
completed
around
1708.
Interestingly,
many
of
the
arms
used
by
the
mob
when
it
attacked
the
Bastille
on
July
14,
1789
were
taken
from
Les
Invalides
on
the
morning
of
that
day.
Despite
resistance
by
the
posted
sentries,
they
were
overwhelmed
by
the
mob
which finally entered the underground rifle storehouse. Roughly 28,000 arms were taken.
The
most
significant
event
in
the
history
of
Les
Invalides
is
unquestionably
the
return
of
the
body
of
Emperor
Napoléon
in
1840.
After
seven
years
of
negotiation
with
the
British
government,
Louis-Philippe,
King
of
France,
obtained
permission
to
repatriate
the
Emperor's
remains
from
St.
Helena.
On
8
October
1840,
19
years
after
the
death
of
the
Emperor,
the
coffin
was
exhumed
and
opened
for
two
minutes
before
transport
to
France
aboard
the
frigate
La
Belle
Poule
(those
present
claim
that
the
body
remained
in
a
state
of
perfect
preservation).
After
arriving
at
Le
Havre,
it
was
brought
up
the
Seine
and
landed
at
Paris
at
Courbevoie.
On
December
15,
1840
a
state
funeral
was
held,
and
despite
a
winter
snowstorm,
the
hearse
proceeded
from
the
Arc
de
Triomphe
down
the
Champs-Elysées,
across
the
Place
de
la
Concorde
to
the
Esplanade
and
finally
to
the
cupola
in
St.
Jerome's
Chapel
until
the
tomb
was
completed.
On
April
3,
1861
Napoléon
I
came
to
his
final
rest
in
the crypt under the dome of Les Invalides.