Lavoir

Lavoir de Liret - Stone.
This open-air washhouse was built on a quadrangular plan outside the village. Although there is no paved sidewalk, it is bordered on one side by a slope towards the water, making it easier for the washerwomen to work. This very simple type of construction is found in many communes, but wealthier municipalities build covered washhouses to shelter washerwomen from the elements. Since washing powder polluted public waters, washhouses were often built on the outskirts of the town.