What is a French lavoir?
A lavoir is a public wash house or communal washing place found in many French villages, often with a fountain.
These places can be generously decorated with flowers and are usually well maintained by locals and councils. They vary from the very simple to the quite grand. Many were built in the 19th century when bringing water to a village was considered a priority for village inhabitants and farmers.
Where are French lavoirs built?
Built around natural water sources like springs or rivers and often with roofs for shelter, they were the focal point of village life. Many are also located directly beside rivers or lakes which provide the water needed for washing.
Washing area and fountain in Borce village, France
Lavoir des Récollets, Blavet River, Pontivy
Our French village lavoir
“When you wish upon a star, or in this case when you wish upon a French lavoir.”
Our village has its own lavoir and fountain on the easterly outskirts and it was a constant point of interest for our children when they were much younger. On our first trip to the house when we were moving in, we found an old photo showing the village deeply covered with snow and our imaginations went wild with white Christmas images.
We soon found out that it was highly unusual for snow to fall in our region and this photo was taken over a decade ago. With childish optimism, our youngest, Anthony (aged 5) decided the matter needed to be dealt with in a serious manner. He asked for the “biggest bit of money coin” (meaning highest denomination) and said he would “fix it”.
With coin in hand, he headed out the door and said he’d be back. Not too sure of what he had planned, I sent him off with big brother (Thomas) and bigger sister (Emily) to keep an eye on him. Without much ado they returned a little while later.
Fast forwarding a couple of days, we awoke to the quietest, calmest and brightest morning I can remember. With light streaming in through my attic bedroom window, I opened it to check why it was so bright and Oh My Goodness… the spectacle of the snow-covered landscape took my breath away!
I’ve skied in Australia, travelled through a snowy Japan and America and got lost in deep snow country in Germany, but never had I woken in my own home to peep out the window and see my roof deeply covered in snow and a white landscape as far as I could see. Like a child, I whooped and ran down the stairs to tell the kids and guests. I even danced a jig.
Anthony’s eyes were wild with excitement and he jigged with me telling me his wish had come true. What’s this I asked him? Well, he had used that “biggest bit of money coin” and made a wish in the village lavoir fountain for snow … and it had come true. Being a resourceful little 5 year old he had used the lavoir fountain as a wishing well and it had worked!
What more could we ask for on our first visit to the house? Our hearts burst with happiness as we walked in the snow, made snowmen and the kids threw snow at each other. Anthony still talks fondly about “that year I made it snow”, and our French friends still can’t believe how lucky we were to experience this unusual weather for our region on our first visit.
Kids are the best aren’t they!
