Columns / Pavilions of the Throne - Place de la Nation - Paris
On the Place de la Nation, there are two columns standing by two pavilions called the Columns and the Pavilions of the Throne. This group of four monuments were part of a wall which was built in 1785, under Louis XVI reign, was part of the «Taxes Collectors Wall», a 15 mile wall that used to surround Paris. Indeed, the eastern and western entrances of this wall were particularly important, for example the western entrance used to be the «Place de l'étoile», and was replaced by the Arc de Triomphe after being destroyed during the Revolution. The Pavilions were used as entrance doors and for customs. During the 1789 Revolution, the fence was destroyed, but it was restored in 1798, and lasted until 1860.
As the columns were not finished at the time the wall was first built, King Louis-Philippe had them finished in 1843, with the settlement of two statues on top, one of King Philippe-Auguste, and one of King Saint-Louis.
The two high columns are 92 ft (28 m) and the two wide squared pavilions are 56 ft (17 m) high and 46 ft (14 m).
The columns are decorated with weapon trophies and allegorical figures. The southern one represents «Abundance» on its western side, and «Victory» on its eastern side. The northern one represents «Justice» on its western side, and «Peace» on its eastern side.