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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Peneau pigeon house, located in Larressingle, Gers, has been a listed historical monument since 1988. Built in the 17th century, it is characterized by its cylindrical shape surmounted by a hemispheric dome, crowned by a lantern. The building rests on an eviscerated cornice, while a stone larval protects masonries from runoff and rodents. Its architecture is remarkable by the presence of 400 bolts – trapezoidal niches for pigeons – arranged in the interior walls. This type of vaulted dovecote, combining agricultural functionality and architectural elegance, remains relatively rare in the region.

The protection of the Peneau pigeonhole by the Historical Monuments in 1988 underscores its heritage importance. The classification specifically concerns the structure itself (cadastre A 263), recognizing its historical and architectural value. Although sources do not specify its current use (visit, rental, accommodation), its conservation status and approximate location (5015 Le Peneau) are documented. The accuracy of its geographical location is estimated to be "a priori satisfactory", based on available data.

Pigeons, like Peneau, played an economic and symbolic role in the agricultural estates of southwestern France in the 17th and 18th centuries. Reserved to the lords or the wealthy landowners, they embodied a seigneurial right (colombopholy) while providing food supplement (meat, manure) and feathers. Their architecture often reflected the social status of their owner, with more elaborate forms and materials than the surrounding peasant buildings. In Occitanie, these buildings were frequently integrated into wine or cereal farms, as evidenced by their distribution in Gers.

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