Military heritage and Arts in the Invalides

Invalides are easily reachable from Montparnasse: take line 13, to Saint-François-Xavier ou Invalides tube station. But the tour can take a day if you want to visit the museums.

The most historical of them may be the Army Museum (Musée de l'Armée) set in the Invalides Palace. Since February 2008 it welcomes a big interactive display paying homage to Charles de Gaulle, former French president and mainly leader of the French Resistance army in the Second World War. The visit lasts 25 minutes. With the same ticket, you can enjoy a glimpse to Napoleon's grave, and another museum about Resistance.

If medals and dust are not your style, you may prefer the Rodin Museum (Musée Rodin). It's in the former mansion house of the artist,  the Hôtel Biron. The museum welcomes temporary exhibitions (a recent one dedicated to Camille Claudel - Rodin's lover and ghost artist - attracted 150 000 people). The gardens are beautiful and include a restaurant. If you loved "the Kiss" or "the Thinker", go to the Orsay Museum: it's a few steps away along the River. While walking down rue de l'Université, give you a treat at the chocolate shop (at n°149).

From the bank, you'll see the impressive Alexander III Bridge. It was built for the Universal Exhibition of 1900. Take a right, and walk to the Orsay Museum. It gathers Impressionist painters (Monet), sculptors (Degas) or photography pioneers (Nadar). Don't miss the design department with the Ecole de Nancy and Majorelle. The museum is 80 rooms long, and offers the cream of modern art from 1848 to 1914. If you want to spend the day, you can enjoy a rest at the incredible Turn-of-the-Century tea room and restaurant (you need a valid museum ticket to access it).

In the vicinity, on rue de Bellechasse and rue de Grenelle, stylish shops offer more mundane options. For a drink or a lunch, enjoy Le Vin de Bellechasse, a local bistro (at n° 20) or Il Settimo, a nice Italian restaurant at n° 57: it includes a lounge sitting area for trendsetters.

Late at night, don't miss the Showcase. This former warehouse below the Bridge goes electro crazy for a fanatic crowd.