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Origin and history

The dovecoier de la Ribière is a cylindrical tower-shaped building, built of granite and covered with lauze without structure, a rare feature in the region. Its roof rests directly on a brick vault, and a lantern protects the leak at the top. Inside, 166 local stone bolts are arranged over six rows. This type of construction, called doveconier-gariotte, follows the economic and functional criteria described in the sixteenth century by Olivier de Serres.

Located south of the Ribière mansion in Flavignac (Haute-Vienne), this dovecote probably dated from the 15th and 16th centuries. It was originally attached to a small noble estate belonging to the Saint-Fiel families (XV-12th centuries), then to the Villoutreys of Faye in the 18th century. The associated castle was destroyed in the second half of the 18th century, but the dovecote, registered with historical monuments in 2004, survived in good condition despite its simple construction.

The monument illustrates the role of the dovecotes in the seigneurial economy: symbol of prestige and source of income (fume, meat). Its lauze cover and its lack of structure make it an outstanding architectural example. The site, which has been protected since 2004, also demonstrates the rural construction techniques of Limousin, adapted to local resources such as granite and lauze.

Ranked under the name of dovecote-gariotte because of its miniature dovecote, it stands out from the other dovecotes of the region. The bolts, stone nest boxes, confirm its original use for the breeding of pigeons, reserved for lords under the Old Regime. Today, there remains a tangible vestige of this noble agricultural heritage, open to study but without mentioned tourist use.

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