“Most Beautiful Public Toilets” Reopened in Paris

Closed after twelve years, public baths until Monday La MadeleinePublic toilets Belle Epoque in ParisThey were pioneers when they took office in 1905.

On one side of the church of La Madeleine, some stairs decorated with period mosaics offer a short journey and for only two euros one can free oneself in an environment. Art Nouveau.

In the basement, varnished mahogany walls, stained glass, soft green patterned ceramics match. “Beautiful, luxurious and useful”Mayor of Paris, Karen Toib’s legacy step by step.

up to Eric SaulsFounder of Point WC luxury public toilets, He wants to make the place a compelling “destination”.

The company, which manages five other luxury spas in the capital, won a ten-year concession for La Madeleine in 2015. Historical monument in March 2011 and closed the same year.

But the art nouveau work of the institutions PorchBased on the London model of the time, “affected by encroachments, which forced the concessionaire to postpone the work”, said Jean de Hautserre, mayor of the VIII arrondissement of Paris, during the reopening of the site.

From the roof of the space, i.e. at street level, natural light filters in and enters through a historic glass floor, reinforced for the occasion with “three layers of waterproofing”, while the furniture is protected, says Karen Taub.

Although the city has yet to restore the staircase mosaic, “Everything is in its element”He points.

However the dealer couldn’t find the shoeshine boy, who was still working on the platform at the time.

With 750 public toilets and urinals, Paris claims to be the first city in the world “in terms of toilets in public spaces”.

Gratuity of public toilets decided 2006Except for a few places entrusted to concessionaires in the most touristic sites (Notre-Dame, Louvre, Champs-Élysées…).

According to the mayor’s office, there is only one example of a Vespasiana, another type of public toilet from the early 20th century, located on Arago Boulevard.

(With information from AFP)

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