Lavoir

The Lavoir on rue du Lavoir in Antibes is a covered public wash house in the old town. It preserves a practical part of Provençal life.

Built in the nineteenth century, it provided a place where women washed clothes and exchanged news. Its sloped basin supported the work of scrubbing clothes.

The roof sheltered users from sun and rain, while water systems carried supplies and dirty water away. Its stone walls hold small sculpted faces and hands.

These angel details come from local sculptor Ho Lui, whose atelier stands nearby. Antibes once had other public wash houses, but this is the surviving example.

Women could spend hours here, turning laundry into a shared social activity. The preserved structure connects everyday work, public hygiene, and community life in historic Antibes.

Narrow streets place it among markets, chapels, and the Picasso Museum. Today, it offers a clear view of routines before household washing machines.