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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The fountain and the old arcade washhouse of Mollans-sur-Ouvèze are a historical monument located in the Drôme department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Dating from the 17th century, this building is representative of the collective infrastructure essential to the daily life of the villages of the time. Its arch architecture, typical of the washhouses of this period, served both as a point of water and as a place of sociability for the inhabitants, especially for lavender trees.

Ranked a Historical Monument by decree of 13 July 1926, this wash is today the property of the municipality of Mollans-sur-Ouvèze. Its registration reflects its heritage importance and the desire to preserve this type of vernacular heritage. Although available sources (Monumentum, Merimée base) do not specify its current state of openness to the public, its precise location is identified at 4 Rue des Aires, confirming its anchoring in the village's urban fabric. The accuracy of its location is considered satisfactory, thus facilitating its identification by visitors or researchers.

Washers, such as Mollans-sur-Ouvèze, played a central role in rural communities before the arrival of running water. They also reflected social hierarchies and local traditions. Their construction in the 17th century coincides with a period of development of hydraulic infrastructure in France, often initiated by local lords or village communities to improve living conditions. These buildings, though modest, are markers of the social and technical history of rural areas.

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