Audio tour 05 - The dovecote

The XV century dovecote is constructed in vertical wood panelling protected by tiled weatherboarding.

Its square design distinguishes it from most other dovecotes which are usually round or polygonal. 

“Dovecote rights” used to be a privilege only possessed by Lords. Its construction required very particular care. It was a feudal symbol of wealth. 

Inside, around 8 meters high, each of the 1,500 birdhouses, called putlogs could house a pair of pigeons. The dovecote was a source of food for the Lord’s Table and could house up to 3,000 pigeons. 

The birds had free access via the dormer window, flying in and out to get their food in the countryside and yet protect themselves from the raptors. 

The dove-gray droppings of the pigeons were used as a fertilizer and were so valuable that it was usually mentioned in the marriage dower of the Lord’s daughters. 

Dovecote rights were abolished at the time of the French revolution.