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Origin and history

The Pigeonier de Cas is a 17th-century building located in the municipality of Espinas, Occitanie. This monument, of square plan, is placed on stone arcades and surmounted by a four-paned roof with a bulb stone ridge. It is part of the outbuildings of Cas Castle, of which it occupies the north-east courtyard. Its architecture combines defensive and utility elements, typical of pigeons of this period, with opus quadratum walls and openings for pigeons.

The dovecote has been listed as historic monuments since 6 June 1980 for its facades and roofs. Although its construction is dated from the seventeenth century, sources also mention a possible origin in the eighteenth century for the communes of the castle. The site is linked to local medieval history, with 14th-century remains (turn and crenelated walls) and a reconstruction of the house around 1617. The castellam of Case, quoted as early as 961 in a Comtal will, bears witness to the former strategic importance of the place.

The dovecote illustrates the economic and symbolic role of these buildings in seigneurial areas. Originally reserved for the use of lords (right to dove), it was used for the breeding of pigeons, a source of meat and fertilizer. Its lantern and mansards facilitated access to volatiles, while its stone structure reflected the social status of its owners. Today, there remains a remarkable example of the rural architecture of Ancien Régime en Occitanie.

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