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Origin and history

La Ferme de Cours is an ancient farmhouse located in Sublaines, Indre-et-Loire, probably dating back to a Carolingian curtis, although this hypothesis is based solely on toponymy. The site was most certainly linked to the collegiate Saint-Martin de Tours, although the exact archives are missing. The oldest building, a square tower dating back to the second half of the 16th century, served as both a porch for access to the courtyard and a defensive dovecote, with 150 bolts divided into three rows. A half-height stone cornice allowed pigeons to penetrate.

The farm is organized around a trapezoidal courtyard, closed by agricultural buildings added or rebuilt later, such as the large southern barn erected in 1864. The tower, the only element classified as a Historic Monument since October 21, 1963, is distinguished by its irregular stone masonry and its stone-cut corner links. Its oriental arch, partially walled, contrasts with the completely obstructed western arch, reflecting modifications after its construction.

Although private property and not open to the public, the Cours Farm illustrates the evolution of the peatlands, from a possible Carolingian farm to an agricultural structure attached to a major religious institution. Its dovecote, symbol of seigneurial or ecclesiastical privilege, recalls the economic role of pigeons in the Ancien Régime, while its location near the A85 motorway (Blérée exit) makes it a discreet landmark of the rural heritage of Indre-et-Loire.

The sources mention its probable connection to the Saint-Martin Abbey of Tours, although no direct documentary evidence is cited. Bibliographic references, such as Pierre Doireau's work on the dovecotes of Touraine or the Dictionnaire des communes de Touraine (1987), highlight his architectural and historical interest, without providing further details about his occupants or his daily functioning.

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