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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Templar Pigeon in Lacapelle-Livron is one of the few remains of the 13th century Templar Commandery, which became the property of the Hospitallers in the 14th century. This monument, inscribed in 1971, illustrates the utilitarian architecture of the medieval commanderies, with its four pillars and its stone vault. It was built in 1678 by Antoine Delteil, master mason of Caylus, in a sober and functional style.

The commissionory of La Capelle-Livron, initially a simple Templar Barn called Monson, was enriched by donations from 1225, notably those of Grimals de Livron and Raymond VII de Toulouse. It became the capital of a Templar baillie in 1260, sheltering knights, priests and brothers. After the dissolution of the Templars, the Hospitallers added goods such as the Trebaix Castle and retained its spiritual and temporal role until the 18th century.

The site, now partially preserved, also includes a chapel classified since 1901, a fortified bell tower and defensive elements such as mâchicoulis. The major transformations (gallery in 1619, dovecote in 1678, staircase in 1703) reflect its architectural evolution. The commandory, dependent on the great priory of Saint-Gilles, was sometimes directed directly by the Grand Master of the Order.

The Hospitallers maintained a hierarchical organization there, with a commander always knight in Lacapelle-Livron, unlike the nearby commandery of D'Espinas, reserved for the conventual brothers. The pigeon tree, a symbol of seigneurial authority, was also used to rear pigeons, a privilege often linked to lords and religious orders in the Middle Ages.

In 1762, a visit of the commissioners of the Inventoria Order the members and appendices of the commandory, marking its decline before the Revolution. Today, the dovecote and chapel recall this past, while the other buildings have disappeared or been transformed.

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