As part of the MINERVE renovation project, the Musée de l’Armée in Paris inaugurated a new trail on the history of Les Invalides in 2024, entitled “Les Invalides: Between History and Memories”. In this context, MUEVO was selected to fulfill a challenging mission: the retrofitting of a heritage reliquary display case.
Designed in 1861, the reliquary case is itself an outstanding piece of craftsmanship: made of bronze, brass and marble, its unique form features four eagles that support a glass cube with their outstretched wings. Four arcades are topped with a canopy decorated with palmettes and surmounted by the imperial crown, known as the Crown of Charlemagne.
This extraordinary display case was constructed to house the memories of Napoleon I, including the sword of Austerlitz, the hat of Eylau, and the collar of the Legion of Honor, amongst other precious relics.
The reliquary showcase was partially restored in 2021, but technical reinforcements were required in order to upgrade security, aesthetics and ergonomic levels.
Housed in the Vauban room, the former refectory of the Hôtel National des Invalides, the contents of the reliquary display case are presented anew to the public following our company’s interventions.
