Lavoir dit Casabona

Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

Casabona washhouse, located in Saint-Pierre on the island of La Réunion, was built in the early 1930s in a sugar cane field on the western outskirts of the city. With a length of 250 metres, it has 120 basins fed by a water pipe derived from the Saint-Étienne Canal, originally designed for irrigation of crops and the supply of sugar plants. This public wash, the largest on the island, met the domestic needs of the inhabitants, especially for washing linen.

Originally open-air, the wash is covered with a metal frame after World War II, marking an evolution in its use and protection. The Saint-Étienne Canal, in addition to its agricultural role, becomes a key element in the water supply to urban residences and Saint-Pierre fountains. This monument, a symbol of daily life and local hydraulic engineering, is included in the additional inventory of Historic Monuments in 2006.

The Casabona washyard illustrates the importance of hydraulic infrastructure in the urban and rural development of La Réunion in the 20th century. Its inscription as a historic monument underscores its heritage value, both for its architecture and for its social role in the history of the island. Today, there is still evidence of collective practices related to water and hygiene in Creole societies.

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