When the Romans came to France, they brought their passion for pigeons with them. Nowadays pigeonniers provide great architectural pleasure with their numerous shapes.
Those constructions are often converted, in order to provide extra-space, into a traditional house to give great added value to the property.
A pigeonnier reflects one of the numerous French traditions and brings great cachet to a property in France, to live in if attached to the house (see the picture below), or for decoration if detached and raised elsewhere on the property (see the picture on the left).
Lovely Cottage In A Quiet Position
Midi-Pyrénées, Lot, Gourdon. Location This property is located in a lovely, quiet position in the countryside with no close neighbours. It is between Gourdon a...
Price: €155,100 Ref: L2876
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Grand Town House 3 Beds, Courtyard, Garden, Outbuildings
Poitou-Charentes, Charente-Maritime. You will feel like royalty living in this grand 3 bedroom town house, with its high ceilings, marble tiled floors, and floor to ce...
Price: €165,000 Ref: 700109
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Windmill With Pigeonnier Set On 1.7ha
Midi-Pyrénées, Tarn-et-Garonne. The windmill which was originally built in the xvi century sleeps up to 8.There are 2 sets of bank bedson the lower and middle fl...
Price: €175,000 Ref: 1672
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Superbly Situated 3 Bed House With Separate Barn.
Aquitaine, Lot-et-Garonne. * Situated in a private position * With excellent views * 1960’s three bedroomed house * Large barn with workshop and storage (w...
Price: €181,500 Ref: APS1695
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More Information...
During the Middle-Ages, pigeonniers were reserved to the French lords, it had to be attached to the house.
The dovecote was a privilege and a symbol of power and so its size always referred to the property owner's one. Pigeonniers therefore played a social role as they helped determine the social level of the landlord.
Pigeons were appreciated for their meat, but their excrements (named "colombine") were also very important as one of the best fertilizers at this time. The amount of colombine producted was often precised when the property's price was discussed. It also contains salpeter and may be used to produce gunpowder.
However pigeons were a threat for the seeds and had to be placed strategically in the estate.
After the French revolution and the privileges abolition many French people were infatuated with pigeonniers but the greater part of them was destroyed through ages.
The ones that remain agreeably remind us of ancient times and their traditions while visiting the wonderful rural France.