Hôtel National des Invalides (L'), Paris

This vast complex was founded in 1675, at Louis XIV's request, to take in French ex-servicemen and handicapped war veterans - from whom it gets its name, "Invalides." It was the first French hospital-turned-home to be built entirely for soldiers. The building is adorned with a pretty classical facade, a delightful little garden, a large courtyard and an impressive esplanade. As well as the hospital - in which a hundred or so disabled ex-servicemen are still cared for - the complex also houses the eglise du Dôme , Saint-Louis des Invalides , the Musee de l'Armee , the Musee de l'Ordre de la Liberation and the Musee des Plans-Relief .