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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Pradeaux estate houses a dovecote built at the end of the 17th century, representative of the agricultural works of Limagne. This monument is distinguished by its structure raised by four posts, supporting a dovecote of square plan. Its walls, composed of torchi and half-timbers, illustrate the rural construction techniques of the time. The four-slope roof, topped by a pointed lantern, makes it a complete and preserved architectural specimen.

The dovecote was a symbol of social status in 17th-century rural areas, reserved for wealthy landowners or lords. In Limagne, a region of fertile plains, these buildings served both as a utility element (rearing pigeons for meat and fertilizers) and as a property marker. Their presence reflected the economic organization of the major agricultural areas of the Ancien Régime.

Ranked a Historic Monument by order of 6 February 1980, the pigeon-house of the Pradeaux is now protected for its exceptional heritage character. Its inscription specifically concerns the structure (cadastre ZE 110), stressing its importance as testimony to the architectural and agricultural practices of the modern period in Auvergne. The approximate location, noted as "passable" (level 5/10), suggests preservation of the site in its original environment.

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