Pavilion of Human Passions

Walking through the Cinquantenaire Park you might stumble upon a small rectangular building resembling a small Greek temple. This tempietto is the "Pavilion of the Human Passions": young architect Victor Horta’s first public commission enclosing a monumental relief by sculptor Jef Lambeaux. The relief The Human Passions is an impressive work of art measuring 11 m long and 6 m high, detailing man's pleasures and sufferings in smooth Carrara marble.

Since its completion in 1898, the relief has rarely been accessible to the public. The difficult relationship between the two artists and the relief itself with its sensually writhing nudes, helped shroud the pavilion in mystery and often inflamed the imaginations. Since 2015, however, both the building and the relief have been cleaned and restored.

The interior of the Pavilion of Human Passions is currently only accessible for guided group tours or you can join one of our Sundays tours for individuals on 28.07 / 29.09 & 24.11.24. The Pavilion takes part in the program of the BANAD festival on 23 & 24.03.24.

Practical information for guided group tours

Price: € 117,50 + € 2,50/ticket (15 participants maximum per group)
Duration: 90 min
Contact us through the webform, or give us a call at + 32 (0)2 741 73 02. Bookings need to made at least three weeks in advance. 

Meeting point: reception desk of the Art & History Museum.