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Origin and history

The fountain-abreuvoir-lavoir de Santigny is an emblematic building located in the centre of the village of Santigny, in the department of Yonne, Burgundy-Franche-Comté. This monument, built in the 18th and 19th centuries, combines three essential functions for community life: a fountain, a water for animals and a laundry wash. Its architecture reflects the practical and social needs of the time, while harmoniously integrating into the Burgundy rural landscape.

The fountain was erected in 1782 by architect Caristie, as evidenced by the inscriptions engraved on the key of the bay in the middle of the corner and in a niche of the posterior wall. It is likely that the wash and water were built simultaneously. In 1828-1832, the architect Tircuit carried out restoration work on the fountain and washhouse. These interventions were intended to preserve a vital work for the inhabitants, whose food source showed signs of weakness since the 1870s. In 1885-1886, a second wash was built in the village, probably in response to the decrease in the flow of the initial source.

Ranked as historical monuments by decree of 21 February 1983, this architectural ensemble illustrates the importance of collective water points in French villages before the arrival of running water. The fountain-drink-washer of Santigny, owned by the commune, remains a valuable testimony of the daily practices and hydraulic engineering of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Its state of conservation and central location make it a major heritage element for the village and its visitors.

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