LAVOIR DE LA CALQUIERE

The name of the "calquière" comes from the Occitan word "Cal" which means "lime" because tanners and whitewashers used lime there in the past to prepare leather and woolen fabrics. This polluting activity had been able to settle in this intramural district but not urbanized, champnau: the new field. This space was designed as a strategic reserve to house live cattle in times of siege. This district was urbanized during the 17th century with the installation of beautiful private mansions by the great merchant families of the city. The latter were quick to request the relocation of craft activities to the banks of the Lot. The tanneries are located in Le Bressal (near the Notre-Dame bridge). This site was first transformed into a mill, but the spring was not powerful enough, so it was quickly converted into a wash house, at the latest in 1701.

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