Cathédrale Saint-Louis-des-Invalides, Neoclassical cathedral in Invalides, Paris, France
The Cathedral Saint-Louis-des-Invalides is a neoclassical church within the Invalides complex featuring high vaulted ceilings and Corinthian columns throughout the central space. These grand columns draw the eye upward to the ornate ceiling work above the main altar area.
Jules Hardouin-Mansart began construction of this church in 1676, building upon designs by Libéral Bruant for the wider Invalides complex. It was created to provide wounded soldiers and veterans with a sacred space for prayer and gathering.
The church is also called the Église des soldats, the soldiers' church, and its nave displays flags captured by the French army in various wars. The adjoining clock tower was built to call the veterans of the Hôtel des Invalides to obligatory morning and evening prayer and to Sunday mass and vespers.
The cathedral sits inside the Hôtel des Invalides complex, entered from the Cour d'honneur through three portals under the surrounding portico; it also lies on the Musée de l'Armée route. A wide glass partition at the rear of the nave connects it to the Dome Church, so both can be seen in one visit.
The organ case was designed by Jules Hardouin-Mansart; the instrument itself was built between 1679 and 1687 by Alexandre Thierry, rebuilt in 1957 by Beuchet-Debierre, and holds 64 stops, 54 of them real, with three 61-note keyboards and a 32-note pedalboard.
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