Pavillon de Flore (Pavilion of Flora), Paris

The Pavillon de Flore, situated at the southwest end of the Louvre Palace by the banks of the Seine, was named after the sculpture group "The Triumph of Flora" carved by Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux (1827-1875) that faces the Pont Royal. Flora is the mythological goddess of flowering plants and also inspired the name of the famous Café de Flore. This pavilion was constructed in 1607 during the reign of Henry IV and extended the Grande Galerie that formed the south face of the Palais du Louvre to the Palais des Tuileries, linking the two palaces.

During the French Revolution, the Pavillon de Flore was renamed Pavillon de l'Égalité (House of Equality) and became the meeting point for several committees of the period, including the most famous one, the Committee of Public Safety. Many other committees of the Revolutionary Government occupied the Palais des Tuileries, referred to by contemporaries as the Palace of the Nation, during the time of the National Convention. Notable occupiers included the Monetary Committee and the Account and Liquidation Examination Committee; however, the most famous was the Committee of Public Safety.

While the interior rooms of the Pavillon de Flore are not open to the public, collections from Africa, Asia, Oceana, and the Americas are housed in the adjoining Denon Galleries. Enjoy your visit!