Timeline

Origin and history

The Maussins look is a masonry device designed to allow the inspection of the pipes, located in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, at the corner of Boulevard Sérurier and Avenue de la Porte-des-Lilas. Built in the Middle Ages, it was part of the water system of the Pre-Saint-Gervais, carrying the sources of the hill of the Lilas to the Priory Saint-Lazare. Its architecture is characterized by a rectangular plan and a stone pavilion roof, typical of medieval utility works.

Renovated in the 18th century, the gaze was classified as historical monuments by order of 4 November 1899. Originally located in the commune of Pré-Saint-Gervais, it was moved in 1963 to its current location, 350 metres south, due to the work of the Peripheral Boulevard and the creation of the Lilas Reservoir. This shift illustrates the urban adaptations associated with the major projects of the 20th century in Paris.

Today, the gaze of the Maussins testifies to medieval hydraulic engineering and its evolution throughout the centuries. Although its primary function is obsolete, its classification makes it a protected vestige of the Parisian technical heritage, accessible from the metro station Porte des Lilas. Its history also reflects the territorial transformations between Paris and its former neighbouring communes, such as the Pré-Saint-Gervais.

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