The Wash-house at Avenue des Poilus

 Virtually all Provencal villages have a laundry room
The wash-houses have their own history, which dates back to the 19th century and testifies to the challenges of the time with pandemics, which in Europe alone killed more than 5 million people in the 19th century.

This wash-house was originally built in 1811, rebuilt several times and its current appearance dates from 1861.

It is a long covered wash-house that got water from the Fontaine du Lavoir right next door.

A long canal brings the water over a distance of about 10 meters. The sides of the canal are slightly sloping inwards, so that the water from the laundry ran back into the canal.

It is said that there was always a battle for the best positions along the canal. Those closest to the top enjoyed the purest water, while those at the bottom had to be content with water that was dirty from those higher up.

The wash-houses were most often located on the outskirts of the city center and are today preserved as a cultural reminder of the hygienic challenges of the time.

Read the background story about the wash-houses here.