Les Invalides War Museum Guided Tour

Name: Les Invalides War Museum Guided Tour
Brand: Babylon Tours
SKU: BCT-53
Price: 125 EUR
Availability: InStock
Rating: 5 (31 reviews)

Group Size

Max 8

Tour Duration

2 Hours

100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Free Cancellation up to 24 hrs

Gallery Highlights Details Itinerary Inclusions Reviews

Les Invalides War Museum Guided Tour - Image 5

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Les Invalides War Museum Guided Tour - Image 1

Highlights of the tour

Highlights generally include:

• The magnificent Hôtel des Invalides — Originally constructed by Louis XIV to serve as a Veterans' hospital.

• Discover a remarkable collection of 60 historic cannons spanning from the reign of Louis XIV to France's Second Empire.

• Marvel at the ground — Breaking Renault FT tank and numerous pieces of field artillery, including the infamous French 75.

• Relive the famous Battle of the Marne while seeing one of the iconic taxis that played a crucial role.

• Gain an in-depth introduction to France's role in World Wars I & II!

Details

Take a trip through military history with one of our expert guides on this 2-hour guided tour of the Musée de l’Armée!

Begin with an exploration of the figures and events that led to World War I, including Bismarck, the Franco-Prussian War, and the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. As you move through the museum, examine the French 75 mm field gun, the revolutionary Renault FT tank, and an extensive collection of uniforms, weapons, and battlefield artifacts. Witness original footage from the events leading to the Treaty of Versailles and uncover how this treaty set the stage for World War II.

Next, delve into the Nazi Party’s rise to power and the key moments of World War II. Your guide will discuss the evacuation of Dunkirk, the Occupation of Paris, and pivotal figures such as Charles de Gaulle and Pétain. Explore an incredible array of wartime relics, including replicas of the “Little Boy” atomic bomb, the destructive V1 and V2 rockets, and a Panzer tank turret.

This immersive tour highlights both individual and collective acts of bravery that led to the Allied victory and the miraculous survival of Paris.

Itinerary

A 2-hour tour of the Musée de l’Armée – World War Galleries” or “Invalides War Museum with one of our certified guides.
70007 Paris

Inclusion

• GUIDED MUSEUM TOUR (with Reserved Entry Tickets Included)

• PROFESSIONAL TOUR GUIDE

• DURATION 2 HOURS

• ALL ENTRANCE FEES (with Reserved Entry Included!)

Not Included

• TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE FOOD AND DRINKS

• TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE HOTEL PICKUP OR DROP-OFF (we recommend UBER or Taxi)

• TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE GRATUITIES (optional)

• TOUR PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE LUGGAGE OR COAT STORAGE

Book your place

Semi-Private Tour

Enjoy an intimate small-group experience

Upgrade! Book as Private Tour

Have your guide exclusively for your group

What Our Customers Say

Oscar M 1 contributions

Very good time

Anatole gave a lot of information and was quite dedicated to making sure we had a good experience. I would recommend him for anyone that wishes to learn.

02 April 2024

JB103 15 contributions

Excellent tour with an exceptionally good guide - Florent.

Fabulous tour! Our guide, Florent, was an exceptional guide. We have taken many tours in Paris and he was by far the best. Hope you get him as your guide on this tour.

01 June 2024

Trek24049292246 2 contributions

Great tour of world war 1 and 2

We really enjoyed our tour to the museum with our guide Florent.Very well planned, the meeting place was easy to find, our guide was prompt. Our tour was viewing world war 1 and 2. Florent was extremely knowledgable on both wars. He was friendly, professional and presented the information in a way that was easy to understand. He literally “ lit up” giving his tour and it was easy to see how much he enjoyed his job and sharing all of his knowledge. It was honestly our favorite tour during our stay in Paris and we were on quite a...

14 July 2024

Paul W 1 contributions

Florian best guide for the dome de invalides!

Florian was a really good expert in historical facts. We enjoyed the trip really much! From 13 century and the end of napoleons reign he gave us nice insights. Thank you Florian!

30 July 2024

Dave 4 contributions

Great guide and great tour. Florent is a fantastic.

Florentino was our personal guide and we all had nothing but positive things to say about him. Very knowledgeable, personable and funny at times. We learned a lot and enjoyed our time with him. I would highly recommend to anyone thinking about this tour.

27 September 2024

dorothy 12 contributions

Great glimpse into France’s history

Very impressive tour. Our guide was very knowledgeable and personable. The grounds were beautiful. There were interesting exhibits that were stunning in their displays. Highly recommend.

13 October 2024

Tim S 2 contributions

So much! So wonderful!

Anatole was our guide, and he was amazing His knowledge and humor was the best. This place is so wonderful! So much to see and not enough time.

21 February 2025

Jennifer C 22 contributions

Don’t skip Les Invalides

We had an amazing tour with Laurent. Les Invalides is an often overlooked landmark in Paris. Most who do visit only go to Napoleon’s tomb. If this is you - you are missing so much. Laurent took us through the WWI and WWII exhibits. He not only engaged us in this significant period of history but he helped give us such a unique perspective and experience. We learned so much and enjoyed every minute. I highly recommend not skipping Les Invalides next time.

25 February 2025

Robert B 1 contributions

Fantastic Les Invalides/history tour

This was a fantastic tour! Our guide Anatole went above and beyond his knowledge is second to none! There is so much to see and he made sure to point out the things we would have otherwise missed!

16 March 2025

Amanda 2 contributions

Great experience!

A great way to spend some time and learn some history about Paris/France’s efforts during the war! Our guide, Mathieu, was patient and willing to answer any questions!

25 March 2025

Chester H 2 contributions

WW Museum and Napoleon Tour

Anastasia did a fantastic job of personalizing our two hour tour. She was very engaging and knowledgable. We would request her again for a similar tour!

06 October 2018

Jenna B 1 contributions

Great overview of the world wars

Our tour guide was Mathieu and he was excellent! This tour was a very helpful overview of a huge chunk of France (and world) history. We learned a lot of things that were also relevant to other parts of our trip. Mathieu really helped us narrow down what was cool to look at and did a great job explaining exhibits.

07 October 2023

Lauren D 4 contributions

Fantastic with Tween WW Tour

We took the World Wars tour with Florent today. He was a magnificent guide for my 12 year old’s fascination with WWII. He was incredibly knowledgeable on the topic which was a big deal as my son has much knowledge on the topic. He also guided us to other areas of the museum for our tour. Well worth the cost for a private tour which we don’t often splurge for.

24 February 2024

Phil R 1 contributions

A Museum Experience You Cannot Get On Hour Own

The only way to do the museum is with Anatole! His ability to weave the story of France between eras gave us a completely new perspective on the country’s military history.His knowledge of history is only matched by his passion for the subjects he speaks of.Most importantly - he was incredibly gracious to a few very late Americans (meaning us)! If you are planning to go to Les Invalides you would be remiss not to go with Anatole

05 October 2024

Gabriel K 4 contributions

Fascinating (and family friendly) tour of Less Invalides

Florent was an amazing tour guide. He was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the museum. He was very engaging with our 8 year old son and had great stories to tell. HIGHLY recommend this tour.

04 January 2025

Excursion109450 1 contributions

Highly recommended

Tour was amazing. Our tour guide Florent was exceptional and wellmbersed in military history. We would highly recommend.

14 January 2025

Rolando R 12 contributions

Great experience

Anatole was a great guide, with lots of knowledge, one of the best tours we have taken.We learned a lot of new things and funny facts.

25 February 2025

Fwsavy 5 contributions

Great way to appreciated the history behind the world wars

Well worth the tour with a guide, there is so much to take in and learn. Florent was amazing, patient and well informed. Made it all worth the while

03 April 2025

Nadine F 59 contributions

French military history with Anatole, wow!

My 18 year old son and I just took this tour with Anatole. He was so knowledgeable, funny, and helpful. We learned so much more than we could have doing this tour alone. He explained everything in detail and we left feeling as though we had a much greater understanding of all French military things and so much more. Thank you Anatole for a wonderful experience we will never forget. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in this type of French history!

22 April 2025

FAQ's

The museum sits at Esplanade Valéry Giscard d'Estaing in the 7th arrondissement. Take RER C to Musée d'Orsay or Metro Line 12 to Solférino — both are short walks from the entrance.

The guided tour runs 2 hours through the World War galleries of the Musée de l'Armée.

Meet your guide outside the main gate of Les Invalides. Your guide will text you the morning of the tour to confirm the exact spot.

Semi-private tours are English only. Private tours can be arranged in French, Spanish, Italian, German, and Russian — contact Babylon Tours to check availability for your dates.

With a maximum of 8 guests, there's room for individual questions and discussion. If you want to focus on specific artifacts or campaigns, mention this when booking — a Private tour allows for a fully customized route.

Napoleon's tomb isn't part of the guided portion — this tour focuses on WWI and WWII. Your ticket lets you visit the Dome and tomb on your own afterward. For a guided visit to Napoleon's tomb, book the Invalides Dome tour separately.

Reserved entry tickets are already included in the tour price, so a Paris Pass or museum membership doesn't apply. No discount is offered for guests who hold these passes.

Your ticket grants full access to the rest of the Invalides complex after the guided tour ends — including Napoleon's tomb, the Dome, and additional military history galleries. Many guests use this time for a self-paced visit.

The Dome isn't part of this guided tour — the route focuses on the WWI and WWII galleries. Your ticket includes Dome access for self-guided exploration after the tour. For a guided Dome visit, book Babylon's Les Invalides Dome tour separately.

The guided portion focuses on WWI and WWII — from the Franco-Prussian War and Bismarck through Archduke Franz Ferdinand's assassination, Treaty of Versailles, Nazi rise, Dunkirk, Occupation of Paris, de Gaulle, and the Allied victory.

Both WWI and WWII galleries are the heart of the guided tour. The route covers major artifacts (Renault FT tank, French 75 field gun, Battle of the Marne taxi, V1 and V2 rockets, Panzer turret, 'Little Boy' atomic bomb replica) with historical context.

The tour features historic weapons, armor, uniforms, and military equipment from the WWI and WWII eras, with the guide explaining each artifact's role in specific battles and campaigns.

The royal armies receive some context for setting up the modern French military, but this tour's main focus is the 20th century — from the late 19th-century lead-up to WWI through WWII's conclusion.

Up to 20 major artifacts and exhibits, depending on group pace and interests. The route focuses on the highlights that anchor each phase of the World Wars rather than attempting to cover the full museum.

Guides cover the political lead-ups to each war, key battles, military strategy, and the broader historical impact. Discussions of the Treaty of Versailles, Nazi rise, and Occupation of Paris are central to the narrative.

The tour is designed for general audiences. Guides explain context and significance as they go, so no prior knowledge of the World Wars is needed. The subject matter is serious but accessible.

Both. Artifacts like the Renault FT tank, French 75 field gun, and V1/V2 rockets are paired with the historical events they shaped — the development of arms and the wars they were used in are explained together.