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Origin and history

The pigeon house of Labège, located in the commune of the same name in Haute-Garonne (Occitanie), dates from the second half of the eighteenth century. This type of construction was particularly widespread in Midi Toulouse, where columbiculture played a major economic role. The pigeon fiente, used as a natural fertilizer, made it a valuable asset for agricultural properties until the 19th century. Originally reserved for castles and large seigneuries (up to the 17th century), the dovecotes democratized in the 18th century, while remaining isolated from dwellings for sanitary and symbolic reasons.

This dovecote stands out for its arch architecture, supporting a pyramidal four-paned structure. Two defensive systems protect the building: a protruding cornice above the pillars, and a strip of varnished tiles under the roof cornice, designed to deter rodents and other pests. These characteristics illustrate the adaptation of local techniques to the agricultural needs and environmental constraints of the time.

Ranked among the Historical Monuments, Labège's dovecote shows the importance of traditional agricultural practices in Occitanie. Its location, reported at 12 L'Occitane (Labège), reflects a priori satisfactory location (note 6/10), although the sources do not specify its current accessibility to the public. The data come mainly from the Monumentum database and the Merimée archives, associated with the municipality (Insee code 31254).

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