Hotel des Invalides

The Hotel des Invalides was commissioned by Louis XIV to house homeless war veterans. Much of the building is now occupied by the Musee de l'Armee (Military Museum), a staggering display of arms, armour and other wartime paraphernalia from prehistoric times to the two world wars. Also on site is the Musee des Plans et Reliefs (scale models of French fortified towns), Eglise Saint Louis soldier's chapel and the Eglise du Dome, with a huge, gilded cupola visible for miles. Underneath the cupola lays the tomb of Napoleon.

Musee d’Orsay

This museum, housed in a former railroad station, contains a huge collection of 19th Century art. The paintings include masterpieces by Delacroix, Millet, Renoir, Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh, Gauguin, Degas, and many others. There are also sculptures by Rodin and Maillol as well as several rooms filled with art nouveau furniture.

Musee Rodin

This museum occupies the house and adjoining garden where the 18th Century sculptor lived. The collection includes such famous works as The Thinker, The Kiss, The burghers of Calais, as well as preliminary studies and unfinished marbles. The garden is wonderful, especially during spring with flowers, statues and fountains.

Visiting Paris

Paris is accessible by plane, car, or train. Getting around the city is easy, as it has an excellent metro system. There are a myriad of places to dine, some expensive, some relatively cheap. And especially good place to find a good restaurant is the Latin Quarter, with its bistros and cafes frequented by students from the nearby Sarbonne, a university founded in the 12th Century.