Jules Hardouin Mansart, Royal architectural monuments near Invalides, Paris, France.
Jules Hardouin-Mansart was a French architect who designed monumental buildings for King Louis XIV, including the Church of the Invalides and Place Vendôme in Paris. His works display classical proportions with strict geometric forms that shape the cityscape to this day.
The architect began his career in the 1670s and later became the king's chief architect. His most important projects were built between 1680 and 1700, when he profoundly shaped French architecture.
The name Jules Hardouin-Mansart represents the strict geometric order that shaped French design in the 1600s. Visitors can still observe this harmony in the balanced facades and symmetrical layouts of these buildings today.
The main buildings are located in central Paris areas and are reachable on foot. It is advisable to visit the areas around the Invalides and Place Vendôme during the day, when the streets are well lit.
Hardouin-Mansart used a new building technique to vault the dome of the Invalides without inner supports, which was an extraordinary achievement at the time. This engineering solution allowed full use of the interior space beneath the dome.
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