Fontaine-Lavoir in Saulzet-le-Chaud

The metropolitan area of Clermont Auvergne features a number of fountains, for drinking or for washing. The fountain at Saulzet-le-Chaud is special in that it also features a cross with the original dedications.

97 fountains are spread throughout the Clermont Auvergne metropolitan area, including around twenty in Romagnat. The fountain is for both drinking and washing, as we see here. The washing basin is located downstream of the fountain in order not to pollute the water intended as drinking water for inhabitants and animals.

Before the washing basins were built, residents of Romagnat washed their laundry in the La Gazelle stream where they set up small dams. The places most frequented in Romagnat were le Clos (close to the cemetery), le Moulin (at the bottom of the street of the same name) and further back at La Gazelle, where chemin de Clémensat cut across the stream. There was no bridge and people crossed on foot across large flat stones. In 1832, washing basins were created to use the overflow from fountains supplied by the fissures of the springs at La Gazelle.

Made from Volvic stone, the fountain and the washing basin on this square are embellished with a cross. Its design is classical, with Christ and the Virgin Mary and the infant in her arms at the crossroads. On the side of the Virgin Mary we read “MA Montrez-vous notre mère” and on the side of Christ we read “IHS signe du salut”. These dedications are original and for now are unique in the region. Fifteen other crosses can also be found at Romagnat.