Panthéon or Les Invalides: what is the difference?
What really separates them
The Panthéon is a building of the Revolution that became a machine for national memory: you enter it by decree, long after your death, and the ceremony counts as much as the burial. Les Invalides is first and foremost a working military hospital with a royal church attached, where tombs arrived one at a time for political reasons.
The visiting experience has nothing in common either. At the Panthéon the crypt is the heart of the building and the rest is a vast empty shell. At Les Invalides the tomb is only one part of a site that also holds four museums, a cathedral and serving soldiers: see the what-to-see page.
What works
- At Les Invalides: four museums and the Dôme on one ticket
- At Les Invalides: a large part of the site is free to enter
- At the Panthéon: a shorter, more concentrated visit
- Both can be done in one day, thirty minutes apart
Worth knowing
- They are not the same tickets or the same institutions
- Les Invalides needs two to four hours, the Panthéon one
- Napoleon is not in the Panthéon, whatever many people believe
Book your entry
The ticket below opens the Dôme, the tomb and the four museums, for the whole day.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Panthéon and Les Invalides?
The Panthéon honours civilians by decision of the Republic; Les Invalides is a military complex where Napoleon lies.
Can you do both in one day?
Yes, they are about thirty minutes apart, but they are two separate tickets.