St Julien Washhouse
Saint-Julien Washhouse is a 19th-century village washhouse built of local limestone, featuring a stone basin fed by a natural spring. Its flowing water system and traditional tiled roof made it an essential communal place for washing clothes and village social life.
Saint-Julien Washhouse is a traditional 19th-century washhouse typical of rural Burgundy. Built with sturdy local limestone and protected by a roof of flat Burgundy tiles, it shelters a large stone basin supplied by a continuous spring flow, ensuring clean water for washing. The angled stone slabs around the basin were used by women who gathered here for laundry and community exchange. Designed for hygiene and practicality, the lavoir reflects both local craftsmanship and the social life of the village before modern water systems existed.
All About the Washhouse
Structure of the washhouse
rectangular, open on all four sides with large openings supported by stone piers.
Walls / base
built in stone masonry
The roof
covered with flat clay tiles
A rectangular basin of cut stone at the centre
function as stone blocks forming the water trough
Gallery of the Washhouse
Location of the Washhouse
Ruffey Washhouse
Ruffey Washhouse is a small rural wash-house set below the road near the old Château de Ruffey. With its square plan, stone basin, and adjoining fountain, it once served as a gathering place where villagers came to wash laundry and share daily news.
Town Hall Pump
Town Hall Pump is a late-19th-century cast-iron manual water pump placed beside the town hall. Once vital for daily water needs, it now serves as a charming heritage feature decorated with flowers in its stone basin.
Queen's Well Sens
Queen's Well Sens is a circular stone well topped by a double-dome cap and a carved stone sphere. It is still equipped with a wooden drum and crank.