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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The washyard of Pont-Saint-Esprit, located in the commune of the same name in the Occitanie region, was erected in 1832, during the 2nd quarter of the 19th century. This public work, typical of the utilitarian architecture of the period, is distinguished by its elongated plane and its central body treated in serlian, framed by two wings housing basins. The carved decoration, concentrated on the facade, features aquatic symbols: a dolphin adorns the key to the central arcade, while bearded heads of Neptune, surrounded by tridents, highlight the functional and aesthetic character of the building. Built roofs and gables take over curved openings, creating visual harmony between the elements.

In 1833, a public fountain was added to supply the water washer, consisting of an elevated basin distributing the flow to two superimposed basins. This system reflected the hygienist concerns of the time, where lavender trees used these communal spaces to wash laundry. The washhouse, owned by the commune, was included in the inventory of historical monuments by order of 4 August 2005, thereby recognizing its heritage value. Its official address, rue Jean-Moulin, and its approximate location (2 Rue des Capucins) testify to its anchoring in the urban fabric of Pont-Saint-Esprit, in the department of Gard.

The building illustrates the evolution of public infrastructure in the 19th century, a period marked by industrialisation and improved health conditions. Washers, places of female sociality, played a central role in the daily life of villages and small towns. At Pont-Saint-Esprit, as elsewhere in Occitanie, these buildings met a practical need while embodying the aesthetic and hygienist ideals of their time. Today, the Pont-Saint-Esprit washyard remains an architectural testimony of this time, open to the visit and managed by the municipality.

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