Bicentenaire de la Bataille de Waterloo

Musée le l'Armée

The Battle of Waterloo on June 18, 1815, 

stopped the advance of Napoleon 

and sent him into exile for a second and final time.

 

In the one day of fighting there were around 55,000 

either killed, wounded, or missing in action.

 However, the battle ushered in more than 50 years of peace.

Musée de l'Armée

129, rue de Grenelle

75007, Paris

Musée de l'Armée - Habit d'officier de la gendarmerie de France

Officer's uniform

XVIIIe century

The Musée de l'Armée was originally built by Louis XIV 

as a hospital and home for disabled soldiers.  

This officer's uniform is part of the extensive permanent collection 

of over 500,000 artifacts.

The historical sense of style by the French 

can be seen in the elaborate details on this bright jacket. 

 I could imagine this on the fashion runways today...

...minus the sword

Musée de l'Armée

129, rue de Grenelle

75007, Paris

Métros Varenne ou École Militaire

Musée de l'Armée

Musée de l'Armée

In my trips to Paris I had prowled the grounds of Les Invalides but had never explored this national military museum of France.  It was originally built as a hospital and home for disabled soldiers by Louis XIV.  The museum holds 500,000 artifacts and includes weapons, armor, artillery, uniforms, emblems and paintings. 

 The permanent collections are organized chronologically giving a historic tour from antiquity through the end of World War II.  There is considerable focus on Napoleon with less on the role of France during the last world war.

The display of weapons and uniforms over the centuries is fascinating.

Musée de l'Armée

129, rue de Grenelle

75007, Paris

Métros Varenne ou École Militaire

Umphhh!

I would say that this is a mouthful!

Whether you are a history buff or not, you would surely enjoy the display of cannons in Cour d'Honneur.

We previously visited the cannons here.

Cour d'Honneur -- Les Invalides

You do not have to be a fan of France's military history to appreciate the beautiful patina on the cannons in Cour d'Honneur. Some of them date from the reign of François 1er, 1515-1567.

I have heard that decorators and gardeners go to extreme measures to get the green patina that the centuries have adorned naturally.