Pigeon towers in France

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Pont-Colombier in Veyrac : a bridge house with a dovecote in the upper area

The pigeon towers in France (French colombier or pigeonnier ) are available in great variety in different designs, some of which have experienced regional characteristics.

history

The pigeon towers could usually only be built by the landlords with royal permission during the Ancien Régime . By decree of the Assemblée nationale of August 4, 1789, this privilege was abolished when feudal rights were abolished. Article 2 reads: "Le droit exclusif des fuies et colombiers est aboli ..."

The pigeon towers were supposed to show the wealth and power of the owner. At that time, pigeons were also consumed in large quantities, which is why pigeon breeding could be economically interesting. The largest pigeon towers housed up to 3000 pigeon nests.

A special form of the pigeon towers are called fuies , these are towers over bridges (very rare) or gate towers (especially on farms), which only provide accommodation for the pigeons in the upper area. In the lower area they have a different function. Pigeon towers can also be located above or directly on residential buildings.

Designs

Round towers

By far the most common form of pigeon towers are round towers made of quarry stone or, more rarely, stone . Some pigeon towers emerged from defensive towers of medieval castle complexes (see e.g. pigeon tower in Courtioux ).

Pigeon tower of a farm in the Aube department , 15th century
Pigeon tower in the Ain department , 16th century
Pigeon tower with buttresses in the Calvados department , 16th century
Pigeon tower in the Seine-et-Marne department , 16th century

Rectangular towers

Pigeon tower in the Lot department , 14th century
Pigeon tower of the Domaine de Beaulieu in the Charente-Maritime department , built in 1595
Pigeon tower in the Dordogne department , 17./18. century
Pigeon tower of a manor house in the Charente department , 19th century

Octagonal towers

Pigeon tower in the Seine-et-Marne department , built in 1627
Pigeon tower in the Aisne department , 17th century
Pigeon tower in the Calvados department , 18th century
Pigeon tower in the Calvados department, 18th century

Gate towers

Pigeon tower in the Lot department , 15th century
Gate tower to a lost farm in the Aisne department , 17th century
Pigeon tower in the Dordogne department , 17./18. century
Gate tower of a former abbey in the Aisne department, 18th century

Half-timbered building

Pigeon tower in the Lot department , 15./16. century
Pigeon house in the Ain department , 17th century
Pigeon tower, Calvados department, 16th century

Mixed forms

Pigeon tower with a stone dome that collapsed, 16th century
Pigeon house in the Tarn department , built in 1779
Pigeon tower in the Dordogne department , 18th century
Pigeon tower with pyramidal lantern , 16th or 17th century

Pigeon towers in or on residential buildings

Pigeon tower in the Hautes-Alpes department
Pigeon tower in the Calvados department
Pigeon tower in the Charente department
Pigeon tower in the Charente department

Facade decoration

Façade decoration is rare on the pigeon towers, only cornices are often attached, usually as protection against climbing predators such as cats and martens.