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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

Lavoir Buriot is a public building built between 1822 and 1823 in Mollans, Haute-Saône, according to the plans of architect Louis-Nicolas Well. It is part of a larger hydraulic project including a large fountain and waterworks. Its architecture is directly inspired by the temples of Paestum, with doric stone pillars, without base, supporting a covered hall. This model was then used as a reference for other department washers, made by the same architect.

The set consists of a central fountain framed by two drinking tanks, backed by a covered wash. The structure, owned by the municipality, was built by entrepreneur Augustin Manière under the direction of Well. Its neoclassical style, rare for this kind of utility, reflects a strong aesthetic will, while meeting the practical needs of washing and watering animals.

Ranked as historic monuments since 6 February 2008, the Buriot washhouse bears witness to the importance of hydraulic equipment in villages in the 19th century. These infrastructures combined public hygiene, water supply and sociability, especially for lavender plants. Its inscription in the Mérimée base and its precise location (7 Rue du Prof. Colin) make it a protected and studied local heritage.

The construction of the washhouse is part of a post-revolutionary context in which municipalities ruralize their collective facilities. The Haute-Saône, the agricultural department, saw this type of development increase, often financed by municipalities. The choice of antiquity-inspired architecture for a utilitarian work also illustrates the influence of neoclassical movements on the public achievements of the time.

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