Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Lavatory Madeleine, built in 1905 by the Porcher establishments, is the first such building in France, inspired by the English lavatories of the 1880s. Located in Place de la Madeleine in Paris (8th arrondissement), it is distinguished by its Art Nouveau style and the use of noble materials: painted mahogany for woodwork, stained glass, decorated ceramics, mosaics, and brass taps. The space initially consisted of three parts (men's toilets, women's toilets, and guardian's dressing room), as well as a shoe shiner chair. Porcher-Revin institutions made it a showcase of their know-how, marking an innovation in Parisian public hygiene.

In 1990, the lavatory was transformed: the section reserved for ladies became mixed with urinals, while the men's section was converted into a technical room for telecommunications. Despite its partial registration in 2011 (access to the ancient male and female lavatories), the site closed in May 2011, due to insufficient attendance (350 passages/day) and compliance with accessibility standards. The mayor of the 8th arrondissement opposed this closure, stressing its tourist potential, but the City of Paris maintained its decision. The site finally reopened on 20 February 2023 after twelve years of abandonment.

Madeleine's washory is often described as a "time jump", offering a rare authenticity compared to many Parisian tourist sites. Inès de La Fressange mentions it in his guide La Parisienne for its retro charm, while local traders and associations (such as Action contre la Hunger, which organized a flash mob in 2011) testify to its appeal. Its architecture and history make it a unique testimony of public hygiene in the early twentieth century, mixing utility, aesthetics and industrial heritage.

Future

The Lavatory Madeleine are today closed public latrines, located in Place de la Madeleine in Paris.

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