Pavillon de l’Octroi

“Taxes? On everyday goods?” a passerby might have grumbled, eyeing the Pavillon de l’Octroi with a mix of resentment and apprehension. This charming neoclassical pavilion, standing proudly on Boulevard du Roi in Versailles, wasn’t always a place for leisurely strolls. It once played a crucial role in the city’s finances as a tax collection point. Imagine, in 1824, the Pavillon de l’Octroi sprung up alongside its twin, both commissioned by the Marquis de Londe, the mayor of Versailles’ third arrondissement. These buildings, along with imposing iron gates stretching across the avenue, formed a formidable barrier. This was no symbolic gesture. It was the literal embodiment of the “octroi,” a local tax levied on goods entering the city. Picture merchants arriving with their carts, their goods meticulously inspected and taxed by officials who resided in these very pavilions. The left pavilion, as you face Paris, housed the tax office, while its twin served as accommodation for the tax collectors. This system, while lucrative, eventually became a hindrance to economic progress. In 1893, Versailles bid farewell to the “octroi,” opting for modern taxes on retail and services.