QR Yronde-et-Buron 5
THE WASH HOUSE OF LA MOLIERE
All the villages have had a wash house since the second half of the 19th century. These facilities had been created as part of the hygienist current which is developed at that time. Wash houses were also a sociable place where women met.
Varied setups
The size of wash houses vary according to the needs of the inhabitants and to the finances of the village. They are fed by a catchment of spring or they are built near a river. Contrary to a widepsread idea, washerwomen went to the wash house to rince the washing but not to wash it. Therefore there is often a single basin but there can be a double basin in which case it hosts a washing area as well. Tiling around it guarantees the place to keep in a good state despite flooding when used. In the wash houses one may have found wash benches and drying lines.
Wash houses in the villages of the area
In 1900 the village council introduced a project for the construction of a wash house in Yronde. Its building was based on plans established by Pierre Riomet, an architect. A couple of years later, the building of a new wash house in La Molière had been decided and trusted in the capable hands of Dallignat, the new architect. Other wash houses still exist in the area for example in Foncrépon and in Fontaburon.
THE VINEYARD IN YRONDE-ET-BURON
The wine-growing region of Auvergne is of Gallo-Roman origin. At the end of 19th century it became the third wine-producing region in France. In mid-November, the Auvergne men living by the shore of the Allier river built rough boats they loaded with coal dug out in Brassac-Sainte-Florine mining district and with volcano wine. Thanks to the autumn flooding, they sailed to Paris to sell coal, wine….. and the wood of their boats. They walked back home to begin their sailing trip again until they amassed enough money to get married and settle in Paris as coal merchants.
This period which brought some prosperity to the region did not last long. The main culprit of this decline was the phylloxera mite that was brought back from America. It killed the vineyards in Auvergne by necrotising the roots in the late 19th century, after devastating the wine-growing region of the South of France.
The wine produced in Yronde-et-Buron was drunk locally. It also made the fortune of some families as the big stoned houses of our villages can tell.
Today the work in the vineyards is demanding despite mechanisation; so a lot of plots are abandoned. However the wine-growing region of Auvergne boasting quality certifications enjoys an exponential rebirth. We hope that the rapid increase of volcanic wines spurs prosperity in our area.