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Pigeons and doves classified in France

A lover of rural heritage, here you will find a complete inventory of dovecotes and dovecotes classified as historical monuments.

Both house pigeon breeding. Doves are more likely to be referred to as dovecotes, in the form of isolated round towers (walking column), in the north and dovecotes, on pillars (run), in the southwest. 

Doves find refuge in bolts. Rotating scales allow the capture of eggs and pigeons. The "colbine" (pigeon's fiente) was also harvested, which was highly sought after as fertilizer for crops such as vines, vegetable gardens or orchards. 

The possession of a dovecote (except in the southwest) was reserved for lords. The number of bolts was proportional to the area of land held. The more important the dovecote was, the richer the lord was.

The problem was that the pigeons ate the peasants' crops, while it was forbidden for anyone to kill pigeons under heavy fines. That's why the question of dovetails was the main one of the notebooks of rural grievances in 1789.

Now, these are the most charming elements of the rural heritage...
Pigeons and doves classified in France

Sélection de 8 dovecotes and dovecotes classified as rural heritage sur 91 en France

Pigeonnier de la Bernisse
Pigeonier
32260 Seissan

The Bernisse pigeon house, built in the 2nd half of the 19th century in Seissan (Occitanie), is an elegant agricultural building with traditional and industrial materials, classified as a historical monument in 2010.
Pigeon house in Gigouzac
Pigeonier
46150 Gigouzac

The Pigeon House, built in the 17th and 18th centuries in Gigouzac (Lot), is an ancient bourgeois residence remarkable by its two pigeon houses, one of stone, the other of wood, and its picturesque awning.
Pigeonnier du Salin in Saint-Pardon-de-Conques
Pigeonier
33210 Saint-Pardon-de-Conques

The dovecoier du Salin, built in the 17th century in Saint-Pardon-de-Conques en Gironde, is a circular dovecoier linked to the salt port activity of the Garonne, classified as a historical monument in 1978.
Former seigneurial pigeonmaker
Pigeonier
49420 Ombrée d'Anjou

Former seigneurial pigeon-maker located in Ombrée d'Anjou (Maine-et-Loire), historically linked to the Château de Pouancé. Listed as historical monuments in 1996.
Pigeonnier de Pondres
Pigeonier
30250 Villevieille

The Pondres dovecote, a 17th-century square building in Villevieille (Gard), illustrates Occitan rural architecture with its prominent headbands and a slope cover, classified as a Historic Monument in 1964.
Pigeonnier de Posanges
Pigeonier
21350 Posanges

Posanges, a 15th century rectangular building, is adjacent to the medieval castle of this Burgundy-Franche-Comté village. Built in blue limestone, it has 1,140 bolts and bears witness to the seigneurial rural architecture.
Pigeonnier du château à Assier
Pigeonier
46320 Assier

The dovecote of the castle of Assier, built in the 16th century in Assier (Lot), is the largest dovecote of the department with 2,300 bolts, symbol of the seigneurial power of Galiot de Genouillac.
Colombier du Manoir à Sainte-Marguerite-sur-Mer
Colombier
76119 Sainte-Marguerite-sur-Mer

The dovecoier du Manoir à Sainte-Marguerite-sur-Mer, built between the 16th and 17th centuries, is a rare example of Norman rural architecture in brick, limestone and flint, decorated with geometric motifs and coat of arms. Located near Dieppe, it bears witness to the region's agricultural heritage.