last vespasienne in Paris
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Where to find the last vespasienne in Paris

Last Updated: 16 February 2022

Once Paris totalled over 1,200 vespasiennes. These public urinals were part of the Paris street furniture. First introduced in the mid-19th century, only one of them has kept to this day. To find the last vespasienne in Paris, you’ll have to head towards the Santé prison, to boulevard Arago (13th arrondissement). Let’s find out more…

 

Vespasienne, a public urinal

In the Middle Ages, a royal edict forbade urinating on the streets of Paris but it was never really respected nor seriously enforced. In the 19th century, the Chief of Police fixed a great number of empêche-pipi at the street corners to prevent wild peeing.

Empêche-pipi Paris
Empêche-pipi at Impasse de Conti © French Moments

In order to reduce urination onto buildings, sidewalks, or streets, the best idea came in 1841 with the introduction of public urinals

It was Claude-Philibert Barthelot (1781-1869), count of Rambuteau and Préfet of Paris who wished to create a cleaner Paris. His motto was “water, air, shade”. He set up fountains, modernised the sewers of Paris, developed gas lighting and planted trees along the avenues. 

Paris owed him the creation of public urinals along the streets and squares of Paris. The first urinals were integrated into simple cylindrical shape structures that were primarily used for notices and advertisements. They were very similar to today’s Morris columns. Rapidly there were called by Parisians « Colonnes Rambuteau » (Rambuteau columns). Not very fun for your name to be associated with public urinals, isn’t it?

vespasienne urinoir Paris
A public urinal inside a Rambuteau column with an advertisement on perfume, Paris ca.1865

The name had to be changed. By tracing back to the Roman era, a new name was found: vespasienne. This word derives from the great Emperor Vespasian (AD 9-AD 79) himself. Legend has it that the Roman emperor placed a tax on urine collection for use in tanning. Needless to say, he was ridiculed for his decision! His response to his detractors was Pecunia non olet (Money does not stink).

vespasienne urinoir Paris
A single stall urinal at Square des Batignolles Paris, ca.1865

In 1877 the public urinals were made more spacious and able to welcome more people at the same time. Multi-compartmented structures could include six to eight stalls surrounded by raised modesty screen, decorative trim at the top and an iron railing fence behind. There was often a gas lamp surmounting the structure to make them easy to find at night.

vespasienne urinoir Paris
Public urinals at the Garden of the Champs-Élysées Paris ca.1877
vespasienne urinoir Paris
Public Urinals in the Jardin de la Bourse, Paris ca.1865
vespasienne urinoir Paris
A pissoir with three stalls at Chaussée du Maine Paris, ca. 1865

 

 

The last Vespasienne in Paris

In the 1930s, Paris totalled 1,230 public urinals. By 1966, the number decreased to 329. In 2017, only one has been kept, and you’ll find it on Boulevard Arago (13th arrondissement) by the wall of the Santé Prison. It is still regularly used… as I observed on my last visit! (but did not dare to step inside – boy the smell is still awful and repulsive!).

vespasienne Paris arago
The last vespasienne in Paris, boulevard Arago © French Moments

Although it is a piece of ‘historic street furniture’ it is not the most beautiful example of all the vespasiennes that once existed. Constantly covered by posters, this structure may not last too long before being removed from the street. (For the exact location of the last vespasienne in Paris on google map.)

last vespasienne in Paris
The last vespasienne in Paris, boulevard Arago © French Moments

Today the vespasiennes have been replaced by sanisettes. These self-contained, self-cleaning, unisex, public toilets are free in Paris. There are more than 420 sanisettes scattered across the French capital.

sanisette paris toilet
A sanisette (front right) and a public toilet (far left) in the gardens of the Champs-Élysées, Paris © French Moments

 

French words for public urinals

In French, a public urinal is known as une vespasienne, un urinoir, un pissoir, une pissotière, une ginette, une tasse

If you want to know more about the history of vespasiennes in Paris, check out this great post on parisianfields.com.

Gems of Paris by French Moments
About the author

Pierre is a French/Australian who is passionate about France and its culture. He grew up in France and Germany and has also lived in Australia and England. He has a background teaching French, Economics and Current Affairs, and holds a Master of Translating and Interpreting English-French with the degree of Master of International Relations, and a degree of Economics and Management. Pierre is the author of Discovery Courses and books about France.

Like it? Leave a comment!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}

Transparency: Some blog posts and pages may contain affiliate or sponsored links. If you are planning a trip, the use of these links helps us to run the site. There is no additional cost to you. All you have to do is click on the link and any booking you make is automatically tracked. Thank you for your support!

Escape to France with every email! Get insider insights, travel guides, cultural gems delivered and exclusive offers to your inbox twice a week. Your journey to Paris and France begins when you sign up!

SUBSCRIBE TO THE NEWSLETTER AND GET THE FREE EBOOK

20 OFFBEAT PLACES IN PARIS

Ebook 20 amazing offbeat places in Paris front cover