Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Bains d'Odessa, located at 5-5bis rue d'Odessa in the 14th arrondissement of Paris, is an architectural testimony of the last quarter of the 19th century. This monument, now classified, is distinguished by its facade on courtyard adorned with a ceramic decoration, an element protected by ministerial decree of 21 March 1983. The building illustrates the rise of urban seaside establishments at that time, responding to the hygienist and social needs of a Parisian population undergoing industrial transformation.

The construction of the Baths of Odessa is attributed to the master builders Gilardoni and Brault, although their precise roles are not detailed in the available sources. The building, owned by a private company, reflects the technical and aesthetic innovations of the late 19th century, notably through the use of architectural ceramics, a material that was then popular for its hygiene and durability. Its exact address, confirmed by the Mérimée bases and GPS coordinates, makes it a heritage landmark still visible today in the landscape of Montparnasse.

The location of the Baths of Odessa, assessed as "a priori satisfactory" (level 6/10), allows to situate this monument in a changing area, marked by the arrival of the railway and the increasing urbanization. Although the sources do not specify its detailed initial use, its inscription under the title of Historical Monuments underlines its importance in the Parisian seaside heritage, today largely disappeared. The photographs available under Creative Commons license (credit: Jmgobet) document its current state, providing an overview of this industrial and health heritage.

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