Have you ever heard of a lavoir that wasn’t actually in the village it was named after? This is the case of the lavoir de Gouline in Paris, located on what was once the edge of the city in the commune of Gouzangrez. The lavoir was built in the neighboring town of Perchay, as Gouzangrez had no surface water. Villagers would travel to the Gouline woods to wash their laundry. The villagers of Gouzangrez are known for their wit. A wooden sign erected by one witty resident read “Here we clean our clothes and sully our neighbors.” The lavoir de Gouline is a Roman wash house built on a natural water source. Clear water bubbled up from the center, supplying the lavoir and a rinsing tub. The lavoir was walled in and covered with a tiled roof, accessible through a door. Today, the lavoir de Gouline is still there, though it sadly lies abandoned and run-down, but it is a reminder of the lives of those who lived in this part of Paris in times gone by.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.