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Heritage classified

Origin and history

Le lavoir du marché Lenoir is a former public building located in the 12th arrondissement of Paris, originally located at 9 rue de Cotte. Built in 1830, it was dedicated to laundry washing, an essential activity in Parisian daily life in the 19th century. This wash, the last of its kind in Paris, still bears the inscription "Grand Lavoir du marché Lenoir" on its façade, now moved a few meters from its original location.

The facade of the washhouse, the only preserved part, was transported to its current location at 3 rue de Cotte, where it now delimits the sports ground of a school. This architectural vestige demonstrates the importance of washbasins in urban hygiene before the arrival of running water in homes. In 1988, the façade was listed as historic monuments, recognizing its heritage value.

Lenoir's market wash is part of the history of 19th-century Paris public utilities, a period marked by increasing urbanization and growing public health concerns. These washers, often built close to rivers or markets, played a major social role in providing a space dedicated to lavender trees, a profession that was then widespread. Their decline began with the spread of drinking water systems and washing machines in the twentieth century.

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