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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The washhouse and fountain of Lacroix-sur-Meuse, located in the municipality of the same name, date from the 2nd quarter of the 19th century. This monument, typical of the utilitarian architecture of the time, served both as a water point for the inhabitants and as a collective washing place, reflecting the daily needs of rural communities. The main façade, with its fountain, as well as the adjacent wash, illustrate the importance of these infrastructures in the social and domestic life of the nineteenth century.

Ranked and registered under the title of Historic Monuments by order of 31 December 1980, this site enjoys partial protection: the main facade with its fountain is classified, while the rest of the washhouse (excluding the classified part) is inscribed. These distinctions highlight the heritage value of the ensemble, while preserving its architectural integrity. The architect Théodore Oudet is mentioned as a project manager, which attests to a careful realization, probably integrated into a larger urban or rural development project.

The location of the monument, at 28 Rue du Général de Gaulle in Lacroix-sur-Meuse, is documented with a priori satisfactory accuracy (level 6/10). Owned by the commune, this wash is part of the landscape of the department of Meuse, in the Grand Est region, and bears witness to the hygienic and social practices of the time. The available data from the Merimée database and Monumentum confirm its status as a protected heritage, while offering avenues for further study of its role in local life.

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