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Origin and history

The Carcassonne water distribution basin, built in 1756, was a major hydraulic structure located at the intersection of Verdun and Les Études streets. Powered by pipelines from a remote source, it distributed water by gravity to the neighbourhoods of the "low city", thanks to its elevated position. This system met the growing need for public water and private connections, gradually replacing the old supply methods.

The land was ceded by the Augustins, who sold a small house from their pens to the city in 1750, after a preparatory toil. The basin, which had been operational since 1756, had five valves distributing water to specific areas: the parish of Saint Vincent, the central square, the suburbs and the parish of Saint-Michel. Its architecture, marked by a triangular pediment decorated with an oval cartridge and a niche for a statue of the Virgin, reflected both a utilitarian function and an aesthetic will.

In the 19th century, the building was abandoned after the construction of new reservoirs (such as those of Macens and Grazaille), then transformed into a private home. Despite this reconversion, its facade and roof were protected by an inscription to historical monuments on 29 May 1947, thus preserving a rare technical and architectural heritage. The cartridge engraved "Pont de tenstrition des eaux 1756" and the foliage motifs still remind today of its original use.

The building illustrates the evolution of water supply networks in France in the 18th century, when cities sought to upgrade their infrastructure to meet population growth and hygiene requirements. Its abandonment to the next century underlined technological progress, with the advent of more efficient systems, relegating this type of work to a historical rather than a functional role.

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