Wash houses

The little gems in the Vosges

The revival of cleanliness

There are probably washhouses all over the world. But a few particularly beautiful and varied ones can be found in the Vosges in France. Most of these washhouses were built or rebuilt between 1820 and 1890. The large number of washhouses was a reaction to the growing awareness of hygiene, which was intended to benefit health as well as the development of morals and public order.

Structure of a wash house

As a rule, washhouses have one or more stone washbasins, which are fed by tapped springs. From the 19th century onwards, care was taken to ensure that the drinking trough for the animals and the washing area for the washerwomen were as separate as possible in order to prevent injuries from the animals. Some washhouses had a third basin between the drinking trough and the washing area, which was used to rinse the laundry with clean water. Some washhouses also had a brick oven in a corner, which was used to produce hot water for boiling laundry.

Gossip

The wash houses were not just places to wash clothes, but also information hubs where you could find out the latest news and socialise. The use of these houses was largely reserved for women, although this does not mean that men were not also to be found there.

Types of buildings (a selection)

There are numerous outdoor washing areas in the Vosges. They are easy to build and not expensive. Most of them were built before the 19th century and have been repaired several times as they are located in the villages along the public roads. Most of the water basins are made of stone, limestone or sandstone.

Wash houses that are open on three sides are less common in the Vosges. However, one such rare example can be found on the main street in Gemmelaincourt. The idea behind this type of building is to close the façade that is most exposed to the weather or to attach the building to an existing building for structural reasons. This form allows for a cost-effective construction that protects the washerwomen from the rain, while at the same time ensuring good ventilation and enabling broad communication with the village.

Another type of building is the wash house, which is open on one side only. This is the most common type in the Vosges. Three façades are closed and the side facing the street remains open. At the opening are the drinking troughs, which also form a barrier to prevent the animals from entering the building. The women enter the washhouse through doors next to the drinking troughs. This type of washhouse can also be found in Gemmelaincourt, near the manor house "Le Jardin des Lys".

Wash houses today

Understandably, washhouses became obsolete with the advent of the washing machine in the 20th century. Nevertheless, you don't want to miss out on these charming buildings, which are definitely part of the cultural heritage of the Vosges.

There are a total of four washhouses in Gemmelaincourt, which were restored in 2017 and are well worth a visit.