Jun 05 2013 2 mins 7
Built by Louis XIV in the 1600s as a veterans' hospital, the Hôtel des Invalides complex now houses Europe's greatest military museum. Under a grand golden dome lies the tomb of Napoleon, the "Emperor of Europe". This charismatic leader took France from revolutionary chaos to military glory and then to ruins. Today his legacy includes infrastructure, education system, and legal code. For more information on the Rick Steves' Europe TV series — including episode descriptions, scripts, participating stations, travel information on destinations and more — visit www.ricksteves.com.
