Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The South Waterfowl is a neo-classical building built between 1827 and 1830 under the direction of the departmental architect Louis Moreau. It is distinguished by its square pavilion evoking an ancient temple and its rectangular wash inspired by the Roman atrium, with an open-air basin (impluvium) surrounded by a double peristyle. Originally, it also included a drinking bowl and an eye-catcher, now missing. This monument, located in the centre of the village, has been listed as a historical monument since August 5, 1988.

The south wash fountain differs from its twin, the north wash fountain, located at the other end of the village and also classified. A confusion persists in the official archives: the plan of the southern fountain on the historical monuments sheet corresponds in reality to that of the northern fountain, while the photograph attributed to the northern fountain represents the southern fountain. These administrative errors underline the importance of these two buildings for local heritage.

The architectural style combines ancient references and practical functionality, typical of 19th century public facilities in rural areas. The wash, a place of female sociability, reflected the hygienic and community needs of the time, while the source pavilion, decorated with columns, displayed a rare aesthetic ambition for a village of Haute-Saône. The property of the municipality guarantees its preservation today, although its exact location (30 Grande Rue) is sometimes subject to cartographic approximations (precision estimated at 6/10).

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