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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The dovecote of the Manor House of Etempes, located in Figeac in the present Occitanie region, is a 17th century building distinguished by its hybrid design. Unlike traditional rural dovecotes, this monument combines a utility function (top column) with a carefully designed living space. The living room, located below the attic, preserves remains of painted decorations, a stone fireplace and a tompet floor, revealing unexpected residential use for this type of construction. The vaulted space on the ground floor served as a tank, feeding an adjacent pool by an ingenious hydraulic system.

The dovecoier-fontaine is inseparable from the manor house of Estampes, on which it originally depended. Its stair turret and its interior fittings (like the window overlooking the pool) make it a rare example of versatile architecture, going beyond the simple agricultural vocation. Ranked Historic Monument by decree of 2 November 2010, it illustrates the creative adaptation of local elites to rural constraints, combining prestige and functionality. Its state of conservation now allows us to understand the 17th century lifestyles and constructive techniques in Quercy.

The location of the dovecote, reported as 'a priori satisfactory' (note 7/10), corresponds to the approximate address '9019 Etempes, 46100 Figeac', in the Lot department. Although the practical information about his visit or current use is lacking, his registration as a Historical Monument guarantees heritage protection. The available sources (Monumentum, Mérimée base) underline its exceptional character in the regional architectural landscape, where pigeon trees were generally more modest and purely utility structures.

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