One of the most striking landmarks on Paris walking, cycling, and Segway tours between the Champ de Mars and Eiffel Tower, the École Militaire was founded in 1750 by Louis XV as an academic college for cadet officers from poor families. The Champ de Mars park just outside the complex originally served as a parade ground for the school’s troops and students, and the front facade of the main building (facing the Eiffel Tower) is still marked by bullet holes left by retreating German units prior to the liberation of Paris during WWII.
The École Militaire is an active military academy and almost always closed to the public, but you can admire its impressive architecture as you head to the Eiffel Tower from the Champ de Mars.
The grassy expanse of the Champ de Mars is an ideal picnic spot, with views of the Eiffel Tower on one end and the École Militaire on the other.
Smooth, flat walkways run the length of the Champ de Mars, making it easy to enjoy the park and its views with a stroller or wheelchair.
The École Militaire is set at the southeastern end of the Parc du Champ de Mars in Paris’ central 7th arrondissement, easy to reach on foot or by bike or Segway. There is a metro stop (École Militaire) just outside the complex, and the RER local commuter train and local bus routes also stop near the academy.
The École Militaire is closed to the public for most of the year, with the exception of the annual opening during the European Heritage Days, held the third week of September. You can take in its grand facade any time of year from the Champ de Mars; choose a day with clear weather to relax on the park’s lawns while you admire the academy’s architecture.
Bookended by the Eiffel Tower to one end and the École Militaire to the other, the Parc du Champs de Mars is one of the most attractive parks in Paris. Other highlights along its grassy length include the steel-and-glass Wall for Peace Memorial created in 2000 by artist Clara Halter, the 20th-century Monument des Droits de l’Homme (Monument to Human Rights), and a puppet theater that hosts regular shows in summer. The park also has several public restrooms and kiosks selling snacks and drinks.
