Garenne wash-houses

The Garenne wash-houses, memory of the washerwomen

The Vannes audio-guided tour lets you discover, in the heart of the rampart gardens, the Garenne wash-houses. These are former public wash-houses, once supplied by the Marle, which bear witness to a vanished way of life.

The hard work of the washerwomen

Imagine the washerwomen cleaning the laundry by hand or with a beetle, using ashes and hot water, in summer and winter alike. In 1958, when the use of detergent polluting the Marle was banned, the washerwomen abandoned these wash-houses for other facilities. Badly damaged by a major flood, the wash-houses were fully restored in 2005, keeping the memory of a hard labour.

What there is to see

The wash-houses, in timber frame and slate, stand by the water, in the green setting of the rampart gardens. Restored, they offer a vivid testimony of a tough way of life, happily gone. It is also one of the most picturesque viewpoints in Vannes, with the ramparts as a backdrop.

Practical information

The Garenne wash-houses are in the heart of the rampart gardens, outside the walled town of Vannes. They can be discovered freely at all hours and on the level, during a walk along the fortifications.

What were the wash-houses for?

These public wash-houses, supplied by the Marle, were used by the washerwomen to clean laundry by hand. They were abandoned in 1958, when the use of polluting detergent was banned.

When were the wash-houses restored?

Badly damaged by a major flood, the Garenne wash-houses were fully restored in 2005, which made it possible to preserve this testimony of the past.