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Berry Pigeonniers / Dovecotes

Berry pigeonniers are part of the regional architectural heritage. They are generally attached to large houses and give the final charming, traditional touch of prestige to these Berry rural properties.

When the Romans came to France, they brought their passion for pigeons. Nowadays Berry pigeonniers provide great architectural pleasure with their various shapes. Those constructions are often converted - in order to provide extra-space - into a traditional Berry 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. You can live in if attached to the house (see the picture below), or ist stands for decoration only if detached and raised elsewhere on the property (see the picture on the left). 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 in France 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.
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The traditional Berry pigeonnier can be located in or outside the courtyard, attached or not to the house itself. These properties can be of rectangular, round or square shape and often are masterpieces of rural architecture, proudly standing in middle of the Berry countryside.

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