Construction of the pigeon house 1644 (≈ 1644)
Built east of the medieval castle.
Début XIXe siècle
Demolition of the dungeon
Demolition of the dungeon Début XIXe siècle (≈ 1904)
Departure from the original castle.
5 juin 2019
Official protection
Official protection 5 juin 2019 (≈ 2019)
Full registration.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The dovecote of the castle, in full, located 3 rue Soeur-Hélène, and in accordance with the plan annexed to the decree (cad. AC 166): inscription by order of 5 June 2019
Key figures
Information non disponible - No name cited
Sources do not mention any characters.
Origin and history
The dovecote of Châteauvillain castle, built in 1644 east of the castral enclosure, is distinguished by its massive silhouette and circular plane of 12 meters in diameter. It is 13 metres high and has a pepper roof and two skylights decorated with composite capital pilasters. Its original white coating, superimposed north openings, and three-ringed oak frame illustrate a robust construction, typical of seigneurial outbuildings of the first half of the seventeenth century.
This dovecote is part of a medieval castle, once marked by a polygonal dungeon demolished in the early 19th century. Symbol of the seigneurial right to dovecote, it was reserved for the breeding of pigeons, privilege of nobles under the Old Regime. Ranked among the buildings of "first architectural interest" in the Châteauvillain AVAP (2015), it is fully protected by decree of 5 June 2019, highlighting its heritage value.
The location of the monument at 3 rue Sister Hélène is attested with a geographical precision considered "very satisfactory" (note 8/10). Its clay floor and interior fittings (north access, clavage frame) reflect traditional construction techniques. Although the castle has disappeared, the dovecote remains as a tangible vestige of the state organization and social hierarchies of Champagne-Ardenne in the 17th century.
