Les Invalides

The Hôtel des Invalides was commissioned by King Louis XIV in 1670 to serve as a sanctuary for his wounded and aging soldiers. Rather than leaving them to beg on the streets, the King created this massive complex to provide them with housing, medical care, and a dedicated place for daily worship. The architect Libéral Bruant ensured the building was functional for its original residents by designing staircases with unusually low, smooth steps to accommodate veterans with wooden legs. It functioned as a home for up to four thousand soldiers at its peak, and it maintains a medical facility for veterans to this day.