Construction of the pigeon house 1611 (≈ 1611)
Date engraved above the door.
1er quart XVIIe siècle
Initial construction period
Initial construction period 1er quart XVIIe siècle (≈ 1725)
Origin of monument according to sources.
8 juin 1989
Registration for Historic Monuments
Registration for Historic Monuments 8 juin 1989 (≈ 1989)
Classification of the dovecote (pigeon).
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Colombia (Case F 301): entry by order of 8 June 1989
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character mentioned
Sources don't mention any names.
Origin and history
The Château des Belles Ruries, located in Monnaie en Indre-et-Loire, is a building dating back to the first quarter of the seventeenth century. Today, the dovecote built in 1611 (dated engraved above its door) is the only vestige of this time, the other buildings having been rebuilt at the end of the 19th century. This dovecote adopts a circular shape, covered by a roof with four superimposed levels, the last three of which, open for the passage of pigeons, are hexagonal in shape. Inside, 1200 bolt holes, accessible by two rotating ladders, testify to its original use.
The pigeon-house of the Belles Ruries was listed as a historical monument by order of 8 June 1989 under the category of "colombiers". This classification relates specifically to this element (cadastre F 301), highlighting its heritage importance. The current site, located at 164 Les Belles Ruries, also includes a later rebuilt castle, but only the dovecote conserves architectural traces of the seventeenth century. The accuracy of its location is considered satisfactory, with an address confirmed by the Merimée database.
This type of construction reflects the social status of the local lords in modern times, where the pigeons were symbols of privilege. In Touraine, the agricultural and wine region, these buildings were also used to mark the property and produce meat and fertilizer. The dovecote of the Belles Ruries, with its remarkable architectural characteristics, illustrates this tradition while being a rare preserved example of this period in the municipality of Monnaie.
