During the mid-19th century, the floor of the Dôme des Invalides was cut away to provide a suitable monumental crypt for Napoleon Bonaparte directly under the glorious dome.
From the main floor, visitors look down on the enormous red sarcophagus of red quartzite — a stone specifically chosen as it resembled the porphyry traditionally used exclusively by Roman emperors. It measures around 4 m long and nearly 2 m wide.
Twelve sculptures, including eight ancient victories by James Pradier, and ten relief panels by Pierre-Charles Simart of the achievements of Napoleon surround the sarcophagus.