I’m a little obsessed with these old “lavoirs” (washing stations). Practically every small village in southern France has at least one. Most were built from around the 1600s up through the beginning of the 20th century. How’d they work? The women of the house would soak their laundry in soapy hot water at home, then cart the sudsy pile to the public lavoir where they’d beat it against the stone sides and rinse it in the flowing spring water. Once the noisy social hub of the village, these lavoirs are incredibly peaceful, evocative spaces today.