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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Branceilles Pigeon-Poor, built in the third quarter of the eighteenth century, is distinguished by its hybrid structure: a stone base and an upper half-timbered part. Originally, it served as a monumental entrance to a home, reflecting the limousine tendency of the era to embellish the properties. The flat tile roof is surmounted by two granite arches carved in the shape of a head, while the nailed door, framed with ionic inspired pillars, adds to its majestic character.

The lower part, now painted, did not originally wear this decoration, and the visible inscriptions were restored. Inside, wicker baskets, intended to house pigeons, were kept in the upper part. This monument illustrates the symbolic and practical importance of dovecotes in the rural areas of Limousin in the 18th century, where they marked the prestige of the owners.

Ranked as a Historic Monument by order of 4 October 2010, the Pigeon-Poor is located at the place called La Bourdie, in Branceilles (Corrèze). Its architecture, combining utilitarian and decorative elements, bears witness to the local know-how and the evolution of aesthetic tastes under the Ancien Régime. The accuracy of its location is considered satisfactory a priori, although adjustments may be necessary for an accurate identification.

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