In many french villages you can find a delightful little building whose sole purpose is to be a communal wash house. In France they are called ‘lavoir’ . They will be situated near a natural water source, either a spring or a river or stream. They used to be a focal point within the village, and I know I said their sole use was being a wash house, but they were also a perfect meeting place, somewhere to catch up on all the local gossip.

In 1851, the french government decided to pay 30% of the construction costs of communal lavoirs. As it became known that dirty laundry helped spread germs, so the government wanted to enable the public easy access to a facility to wash their clothes, and keep themselves clean. This encouraged a large numbers of lavoirs to be built all across France.

Now though they are left unused, some buried under undergrowth, but some are very well looked after by the locals, or councils, and often covered in flowers in the summer.

*To the right of the river is the Lavoir in Essoyes, you wouldn’t want to let go of your washing!*

Lavoir

A nice finish

Not on the list…