Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

La Ferme au pigeonnier d'Ollé is a monument located in the commune of Ollé, in the Centre-Val de Loire region. This type of construction, including a dovecote, was typical of large farms, often linked to grain or livestock activity. Pigeons, symbols of wealth and social status, were also used to produce meat and fertilizer for the surrounding lands.

In the Centre-Val de Loire region, traditional farms played a central role in the rural economy. They were often organized around an inner courtyard and included buildings dedicated to housing, crop storage and breeding. The presence of a dovecote generally indicated a prosperous farm, capable of supporting a complementary poultry business.

These structures also reflected the social hierarchies, with landowners or wealthy farmers being the only ones allowed to own pigeons under the Old Regime.