Timeline

Heritage classified

Origin and history

Réalville Pigeon is a historic monument located in the commune of Réalville, Occitanie. This polygonal dovecote, built of brick, probably dates from the seventeenth century. It is distinguished by its imposing architecture, supported by eight cylindrical stone pillars, including a central supporting beam. These pillars are crowned with an overturned capital, called capel, designed to prevent rodents from accessing the structure. The roof, composed of seven panels, is surmounted by a polygonal pyramidal lantern, housing a wooden drum pierced with holes for the passage of pigeons.

This dovecote was registered as a Historical Monument by order of 28 June 1988. It is located at the place known as Martel, on cadastre F 1496. Although its exact address is sometimes associated with the 990 Chemin des Places in Cayrac, official sources clearly place it in Realville, in the Tarn-et-Garonne department. The accuracy of its location is considered satisfactory a priori, with a score of 6 out of 10 according to the available data.

Pigeons, like Réalville, were common constructions in the agricultural fields of the 17th and 18th centuries. They were used not only to raise pigeons for their meat and eggs, but also as a symbol of social status, since their possession was often reserved for wealthy landowners or lords. Their architecture often reflected local know-how, such as the use of brick and stone in this case. This monument thus illustrates both a utility function and a prestige mark in the rural context of the time.

External links