Leda Paris Apr 2026

During Baron Haussmann’s renovation of Paris in 1864, the fountain was moved to the back of the more famous Medici Fountain , where it remains a "hidden gem" for visitors. Brancusi's "Léda" (Centre Pompidou)

Brancusi reimagined the myth by depicting the metamorphosis of the woman herself into the swan, rather than Zeus.

There is a restaurant and bar named Leda located at 12 rue du Cygne (Street of the Swan) in the 1st Arrondissement near Châtelet/Les Halles. leda paris

Both the fountain and the sculpture draw from the Greek myth where Zeus (Jupiter) transforms into a swan to seduce Leda, the Queen of Sparta. This myth is a recurring theme in European art history, particularly in Paris.

The fountain features a bas-relief by sculptor Achille Valois depicting the myth of Leda and the Swan. In the sculpture, water originally spouted from the swan's beak into a basin. During Baron Haussmann’s renovation of Paris in 1864,

The is a historic wall fountain currently located in the Jardin du Luxembourg .

A version of this work is a key piece in the Centre Pompidou collection in Paris, known for its polished surface that interacts with light to suggest movement and life. Cultural and Commercial Context Both the fountain and the sculpture draw from

In the realm of modern art, "Léda" refers to a significant sculpture by Constantin Brancusi , created around 1926.