L'Hôtel des Invalides

The central courtyard has two storeys of arches similar to those of a cloister. The overall harmony is created by the repetition of a single module (the radius of the arc) and creates a striking arithmetic regularity: the galleries are punctuated with ten and twenty semicircular arches arranged around an elevated central pavilion and limited by protruding aediculae. The base of the roof consists of groups of horses and various trophies surrounding the dormer windows. On the eastern side, a wolf surrounds the fifth window to the right of the central pavilion: it is a tribute to Louvois (Loup voit-Wolf sees), at the time the minister of war.

Historical
This building is an institution founded by Louis XV in 1670 so that “those who freely risked their lives and sacrificed their blood to defend the monarchy spend the rest of their days in tranquillity.” The work was entrusted to Liberal Bruant (architect of Notre-Dame des Victoires), who built a veritable city arranged around the courtyard, inspired by both a monastery and a barrack. The place has the grandeur and decorative nobility of a palace.