The feast of Saint Barbara, the feast of the artillerymen

• As every year , the Army Museum , in collaboration with the Artillery School of Draguignan and its brass band, celebrates the feast of Saint Barbara, which is the artillerymen’s festival.
• On the occasion of Saint Barbara’s Day, for a weekend, the Musée des Invalides offers free access to the Museum’s artillery collections, with brass bands and demonstrations
• A little reminder: Saint Barbara is the patron saint of pyrotechnicians, gunsmiths, artillerymen, miners and firefighters. Sainte-Barbe wards off thunder, lightning, and all accidents related to the explosion of gunpowder.
• To celebrate the feast of Saint Barbara, the courtyard of honour of the Invalides is the scene of a historic, free family show around the artillery.
• It is a festive weekend combining performances, re-enactments and presentation of military equipment.
• Specialists from artillery regiments retrace the evolution of artillery from the First Empire to the present day to the sound of the brass band of the Military School of Draguignan.
• It is a free and exceptional event for the general public.
• Children accompanied by adults are invited to meet the actors of the event. They are encouraged to answer questions in a game booklet given free of charge on site.

Opening hours of the “Feast of Saint Barbara at the Invalides”:

• From 2 p.m. on December 7 and 8, 2024
• Around 2:30 p.m.: brass band
• Around 3 p.m.: artillery demonstrations by soldiers in period dress
• Around 3:30 p.m.: cannon fire
• From 3:45 p.m.: time for discussion with the actors of the event