Original subtitles

Despite the H�tel des Invalides originally being a retirement home...

for the most severely injured war veterans, the makers of this film...

have concentrated only on the part housing the museum.

They didn't feel able to deal in a single documentary, with the important

social and medical issues raised by the veterans...

in defence of their institution.

H�tel des Invalides

founded in 1675 by Louis XIV

as a hospital and retirement home for war veterans.

Guarded by a "triumphal battery" of 12 cannons

called the "twelve apostles"

the edifice was built after the plans of the architect Lib�ral Bruant.

Designed by Mansart, we have here l'�glise du D�me, facing south.

Above the romanesque colonnade

the dome is topped by a lantern with four sides.

The sparrows of the Invalides.

The pigeons of the Invalides.

The skylights of the H�tel are surrounded by sculptured trophies.

The most important representing the coat of arms of Louis XIV's minister.

"Le Loup Voit" "The Wolf Sees"

From this mansard we can see

The Place de la Concorde and the bridges over the Seine.

L'arc de Triomphe

and the tower of the engineer Alexandre Gustave Eiffel

which surround the H�tel des Invalides where are housed those gravely wounded

and the illustrious fallen.

Legends have their heroes

and war its victims.

Here the army has its museum.

The remains of the old artillery.

A beautiful yet...

terrifying work of art, from the "Vert Galant" era.

Some of these poor looking devices

amuse the visitors, however...

if we measure the dangerous development of an industry

which grows like a poisonous fungus

we must realise that this is no laughing matter.

Here is the first section of the Mus�e de lArm�e

The display of armour

This way, Ladies and Gentleman

This superbly embossed armour, called "Aux lions"

Attributed to Francois I

A very elegant equestrian suit also belonging to Francois I

A burnished and damascened suit of Otto Henry Count Palatine of the Rhine

Please, don't touch

Don't touch them, please!

Now then!

CHILDRENS' ARMOUR Louis XIII era

In this case we can observe three suits enclosed

as they are so rare, only 5 exist in the whole world

No touching please

The tournament armour of the Duke of Alba

The jousting armour of the Duke of Richemont

Louis XIII

Finally the collection's masterpiece, the engraved suit of Louis XIV

offered to the Sun King after the conquest of the Indies

Before visiting the historic relics

don't forget to look out over the Cour de la Victoire

which can be vewed from here.

"The singing victory which opens the barriers"

The victory of the Revolution has decapitated the absolute monarchy.

The Republic

The Empire

Here we are gentlemen, in the room of the banners

The statue "Long Live the Emperor"

A charge of the grenadiers of the Imperial Guard

The Emperor

Various objects belonging to the Emperor

His camp bed

His work table

and his attach� case of the First Consul

His dog from the Isle of Elba

and his horse Vizir Naturaliste

Napoleon I died at St Helena 5th May 1821

His glorious deeds still exciting the fields of battle

and illustrated in this painting by �duard Detaille

which has inspired the popular song "La R�ve Passe"

Out on the Plain the weary soldiers now are sleeping

Lulled to slumber while the evening breezes blow

From the field the smell of new mown corn is creeping

And the sentinel is pacing too and fro

Then all at once the sky is filled with shapes of horsemen

Lit up by lightning as the dying day goes down

And the famous white horse is directing the course

To renown...

See them pass on, those hussars, those dragoons, and guardsmen

They all salute...

The Emperor who watches them

Ladies and gentlemen, would you follow me please

The clock is an equation of Lepaute

The broken engine from Roland Garros' plane

The aircraft of Charles Guynemer from the Great War

WITH WHICH HE SHOT DOWN 12 ENEMY PLANES

The 1914-1918 hall

A picture showing an improvised orchestra in the trenches

The bronze head from the statue of General Mangin

Souvenirs of Sergeant Maginot

A periscope from the trenches of the "Chemin des Dames"

FRENCH LOSSES 1914-1918 WAR

INJURED: 3,584,889

MISSING: 314,000

DEAD: 1,071,000

TOTAL CASUALTIES: 1,385,000

1 IN EVERY 27 PEOPLE

TOTAL ALLIED LOSSES: 3,070,000

- A lady - Come on!

Saint-Louis des Invalides, the church of the soldiers

"Paradise is in the shade of swords"

The church of Saint-Louis and the Chapelle du D�me are separated

by this stained glass window installed in 1873

The Emperor

rests in the sarcophagus of Finnish quartzite.

The Emperor was placed in pink quartzite

because we wanted to honor him

as were honored in times past the Roman emperors.

He lies in the uniform of a Colonel of the Chasseurs of the Imperial Guard

his own choice.

The sword of Auzterlitz

and the grand collier of the L�gion D'Honneur

established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte First Consul.

NAPOLEON II KING OF ROME

And now I will show you of all the tombs, the most moving.

In single file

Left turn!

We have the honour of watching over Marshall Foch

Right turn!

- What's that? - The children drilling.

Subtitles: Corvusalbus