The Museum of the Army and Tomb of Napoleon will be high on the sightseeing schedule of any history buff making their way round Paris attractions.

Originally established by Louis XIV as a hospital for disabled soldiers, the museum now houses massive amounts of military memorabilia dating back to antiquity.

Among its collection of 500,000 objects are weapons, armour, artillery, uniforms, emblems and paintings.

However, the highlight of a trip to the museum is undoubtedly the Tomb of Napoleon, which very nearly did not end up in France.

The military leader passed away in 1821 while in exile on the island of St Helena and was buried in a scenic valley. However, in 1840, King Louis-Philippe ordered the emperor's body be returned to France.

The Tomb of Napoleon we see today is made from red porphyry with a base of green granite, and is circled by a crown of laurels and carvings noting the great victories of the Empire.

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Posted by Georgina Black