Les Invalides inaugurates the new main courtyard

Paris. Located at the entrance to the site behind the famous 200 meter long facade, the main courtyard of Les Invalides had never been the subject of a comprehensive restoration since the end of the 17th century, when it was built. This 6,500 square meter space occupies a central place in a site with multiple functions: “The site hosts thirty-eight different organizations and services, including a church, a hospital, a fire station and a police station”specifies Colonel Moutin, chief of staff of the military governor of Paris (the military governor of Paris has his offices in a wing of the Hôtel des Invalides). Added to this are a military necropolis and three museums, including that of the Army which alone attracts 1.4 million visitors per year: the courtyard is therefore constantly used beyond the ceremonies for which it is intended (taking up arms of military officials, national funerals, tribute to the victims of attacks). “It’s sort of the central square of the village,” summarizes Colonel Moutin. The restoration lasted a year and cost 4.2 million euros according to General Tollet, director of the Defense Infrastructure Service for Ile-de-France, who directed the work. Made up of 142,000 stone paving stones, the ground of the courtyard showed signs “water infiltration and partial subsidence” according to the general, and the work was decided to “ bringing the yard’s load-bearing capacity up to standard” particularly for the passage of fire trucks.

The courtyard regains its authenticity

In addition to earthmoving operations, the work made it possible to restore the pavement, 80% of the paving stones were reused after sorting, with the aim of harmonizing the visual appearance and improving accessibility. “A strip of smoother paving stones was installed in the middle of the courtyard to facilitate access for PRMs (editor’s note: Person with Reduced Mobility) »points out General Tollet. He adds that the work was not accompanied by preventive excavations because “the history of the site is well documented and the basements have not revealed any surprises”. This work, however, brought to light rainwater evacuation gutters whose existence was indicated by textual sources: this evacuation system dating from the 17th century discharged rainwater into the Seine through a network built under the buildings, the courtyard and the exterior esplanade. The restoration work has given the courtyard its stripped-down aesthetic typical of military sites built under Louis XIV, with paving stones and joints that match the light colors of the facades (see ill.).

The Hôtel des Invalides is continuing its heritage rehabilitation policy after having restored part of the facades in 2019. The next step concerns pedestrian access to the site, which has been provided since 2025 by a temporary footbridge over the ditches. Necessary for the passage of trucks during the work, the footbridge will eventually be dismantled according to Colonel Moutin who specifies that the development project provides “two pedestrian bridges better integrated into the aesthetics of the site, as well as the restoration of the entrance bastions”. The cost of the work is around 3 million euros, the financing of which has not yet been specified.