The cathedral of Saint-Louis-des-Invalides
Two churches for two worlds
The original plan is brutally clear: a church for the soldiers to the north, a church for the king to the south, back to back, separated by a shared altar that a glazed bay let both sides see. The king and the pensioners attended the same service without ever meeting. It is the whole Grand Siècle in a floor plan, and it can still be read today: see the Dôme page.
The flags
The galleries carry flags and standards taken on campaign. There were once many more: a large number were burned in 1814 to stop them being recaptured by the Allies. What remains is impressive enough, and it is a dark historical object that people look at differently depending on where they come from.
The cathedral has a musical history too: Berlioz's Requiem was premiered here in 1837, and its organ is a remarkable instrument.
Go in on the way out of the Dôme, not before. The contrast between the gilded sumptuousness of the royal church and the white plainness of the soldiers' church only works in that direction.
Book your entry
The ticket below opens the Dôme, the tomb and the four museums, for the whole day.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need a ticket for the Saint-Louis cathedral?
No, it is free to enter: see the free-access page.
Can you attend a service?
Yes, it is a working church, the cathedral of the French military diocese.