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Origin and history

The old doll baths in Carcassonne were built in the early 20th century to meet a growing need for public hygiene. In 1907, the Carcassonian work of the Bains-douches was founded with the support of the town hall. The architect Léon Vassas, already master of the Grand Théâtre de la Cité, was commissioned to design the building, inaugurated in December 1910. The establishment offered fourteen cabins (eight for men, six for women), each divided into a declothing space and a sprinkler room, equipped with white bricks and bevelled sandstones.

The building, designed to facilitate access to personal hygiene in a context where housing was often without bathrooms, became key municipal equipment. The facades and roofs, protected since 2016, bear witness to this utilitarian and social architecture. After its closure, the site was converted into a crèche, preserving part of its heritage while adapting its use to contemporary needs.

The precision of the interior architecture, such as the 1.20 meter cabins with their equipment (fixed seat, ice, slat), reflects a desire for functionality and dignity for users. The canvas curtain separating white brick spaces and walls was designed to combine practicality and health. Today, although its use has changed, the building remains a marker of Carcassonne's social and urban history, recalling the evolution of hygiene standards in the 20th century.

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