You can still find these old
lavoirs publics (public laundries) around rural France (and even in some larger towns and cities). They are simple buildings built along a water course with shallow basins for washing and rinsing clothes. The water is supplied by the river or stream they're built on. I don't think anyone uses them anymore, but they're historic and often restored and incorporated into waterfront parks.
The public laundry building in Le Grand-Pressigny.
I've been doing laundry here (at home) these past few days since I've been able to hang things out on the line to dry. I did another load overnight, but we're expecting rain today so those things will have to hang indoors.
Oh I'd say they're still put to good use ! Nice shot.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful shot. I can just imagine you scrubbing your Calvins on a stone along a river.
ReplyDeleteuh, check your post title (sp?).
ReplyDeletethank the dogs and cats for washing machines! no more rivers and washboards and rocks! interesting historical buildings though.
anne marie, thanks! At least I didn't forget the "l" altogether... ;)
Deletebwhahahahahaha! ;-)
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ReplyDeleteI have discovered that I can not post comments on blogs when in Firefox, and Mac's OS 10.8.5. I can do it in Safari, and I can do it on either Safari of Firefox if I'm on my home computer, which runs OS 10.6 --- anyone else run into this problem? When I click to PUBLISH, I just lose my comment.
ReplyDeleteThis is the kind of thing that we Americans love about Europe-- here in the States, we don't run across historic town washing centers, or historic town bread-baking ovens, like you can in France.
ReplyDeleteThis is one thing I love about the Michelin guides-- they point out this kind of thing. I only learned of the concept of a Lavoir Public during a trip to France in the '80s, when we were driving along some road in Dordogne, and we passed by a little hameau that had a Lavoir Public. It was the Michelin Guide that explained what it was.
Totally agree, Judy! Europe and the old ways are so much fun for me to see and sometimes experience! It's like being in a time machine.
DeleteMary in Oregon
You don't have a dryer in your house? I find clothes wrinkle too much when I've hung them on a line to dry.
ReplyDeleteThey might wrinkle---but ooh they smell soooo fresh! And think of the electricity or gas you're saving!!!
DeleteI do always put my towels in the dryer, though. UGLY on the line. (Hard, wrinkled and shrunken!)
My lousy French read this as public lavatory.
ReplyDelete