LAVOIR DE LA CALQUIERE

The name "calquière" comes from the Occitan word "Cal" meaning "lime", as tanners and launderers used to use lime to prepare leather and woollen fabrics.

This polluting activity was able to settle in this undeveloped inner-city district, champnau: the new field.

This area was conceived as a strategic reserve for housing livestock in times of siege.

During the 17th century, this district became urbanized with the construction of fine townhouses by the city's leading merchant families.

These families were quick to demand that craft activities be moved to the banks of the Lot.

The tanneries were set up at Le Bressal (near the Notre-Dame bridge).

The site was first transformed into a mill, but the spring was not powerful enough, so it was soon converted into a washhouse, by 1701 at the latest.