AVEC MARIJO C'est bon pour le diaporama, le collègue du Gers m'a donné le feu vert pour les Pays Bas. Pas de contre indication, au contraire cela ne peut ramener qu'un + pour le tourisme. Salutations, Yves TONNELIER With this words Aviculture Europe was granted permission to publish this splendid presentation of French Pigeon Houses.
The Pigeon Houses in the French Departement The Tarn
During a stay at my daughter s in Rabastens, she drew my attention to the pigeon-houses in the area. She thought it might be interesting to make a presentation. And of course, these pigeon houses are of various architectural characteristics. But there are over 1700 in the Tarn region, so how can you make a choice? there is a very well done document available, offered by the Tourist Board of the Tarn region and produced in collaboration with Michel Lucien, author of the book Les Pigeonniers de Midi-Pyrénées (Pigeon Houses in the Midi-Pyrénées). He describes 20 pigeon houses, classified into several general categories. My curiosity was piqued and I decided to go and find those pigeon houses, which I did in three wandering tours of around 500 km. All information as given in the following presentation is according the perfect book by Michel Lucien.
TARN The Tarn is a department in the South- West of France, in the Midi-Pyrénées region.
In this departement you can find the following types of Pigeon-Houses: - Mules foot pied de Mulet or Toulouse type - Built on pillars - Built on arcades - Cylindrical tower - Square tower - Polygonal tower -Porche type - Integrated into the construction of homes
This scheme taken from the document of the Tarn region Tourist Board is a good help in identifying the different architectural elements of the pigeonhouses. I would like to add that the mainpart of the pigeon-house is called the Caisse.
One may wonder why there are so many pigeon-houses in the Tarn. It seems that the main reason is the presence of the many wheat fields and vineyards in the west of the county, where they are found most frequently... In the Tarn several types of pigeon-houses are found, mainly differing in roof construction. The type Gaillac" is a square-tower whose roof slopes outward at the bottom and is commonly called queue de vache (cow s tail); the "Castrais" type with a pinnacle or turret, and the Saint-Sulpice or Albigenzen, with a foursided roof of flat tiles...
At MILHAR, this pigeon house is integrated in a residence, which is built as a part of the wall of a castle. Because of its location it is believed that this was originally a watchtower. The pigeons fly from a square window with a landing platform. A little lower in the wall there are also five smaller square flight holes.
Restored in 2004, this pigeon house on pillars has a roof with four slopes, covered with curved tiles (tuiles canal), while the pinnacle on the top is covered with flat tiles (Tuiles plate). It is located below the village church of LABASTIDE DE LEVIS.
At ANDILLAC, this pigeonhouse of beautiful white limestone is representative for the "Gaillac" type, with a pyramid-shaped roof with four steep sides bordered with a line of tiles (génoise). Note the decorative ceramic pigeons on the roof.
This pigeon house in LE VERDIER is a fine example of those on pillars. Each pillar consists of six limestone cylinders. At the top of the pillars and under the body of the pigeon-house, there is a stone cap (the so-called capel ) which prevents the ascension of predators. The square body (caisse) is half timbered, featering the use of wood with bricks and stone. The two attic windows in the pyramidshaped roof have round flight holes, allowing the pigeons access to the interior.
At GAILLAC, this loft is located in the courtyard of the Museum of Natural History and at the late hour when I arrived, the museum was closed and I could not get close. It is a square tower built of bricks typical of the region. The four-sided roof, almost flat, is of the "Saint- Sulpice" type and covered with tiles "canal".
Despite extensive research, I just could not find this pigeon house in BRENS,... I was sorry because it is very particular, almost looking like a small Baroque castle and the roof is decorated with all sorts of ornaments such as vases, balls and weathervanes. It was built in 1848 and restored in 2008. The 16 square flight holes are constructed with the typical bricks of the region.
In the small town of LISLE SUR TARN I found this pigeon house; unfortunately a Public Place to wash clothes prevents the full view of its base. The brick construction is largely hidden by a plaster called crepi. We cannot see the pillars with high arches, but we are able to see three cornices (randières); two of bricks and the center one of tiles. Above is the flight opening for the pigeons.
When passing through LAVAUR, I always noticed what I took as a watchtower... In the city centre, this turret, projecting from the edge of the building, is constructed of with the traditional bricks of the Southwest region. The ornament (l épi) on top of the hexagonal roof is a bellied pottery pigeon which stands proudly on a vase. Above one of the two stone cornices ( randières ), a square stone with four holes provides access for the pigeons. The cantilever construction (corbel) below the body of the pigeon-house is constructed in stone.
This pigeon house in GRAULHET, built on pillars of sandstone is of the "mules foot" type. It is built with bricks and covered with tiles "canal", it has a wooden riser with flight holes. The body le caisse is halftimbering, panels filled with a "nogging" of bricks from the region. Seven ornaments (épis) dominate the ridge, one of which supports a ceramic pigeon.
Located in a garden near the nursing home MONTDRAGON, this pigeon house is built of beautiful ocher coloured natural stone. It is supported by very solid pillars with «capel et chapiteau» and its body is "mules foot" type. In the front is the access for the pigeons consisting of a single massive stone with flight holes.
This pigeon house in LOMBERS is made of stone with beautiful cornerstones. It is supported by wide arches. Its pyramid roof is covered with slates.
This pigeon house with two towers is found in LAUTREC, a grange with a pigeon house at each corner. It is surmounted by arches (type sur arcades ) and built of stone. The stone cornices ( randières ) serve as a landing board. The roofs with four slopes, covered with flat tiles, are topped with a pinnacle which is decorated with a ceramic pigeon on a ball.
This one, in ST PAUL CAP DE JOUX I especially love... It rests on very massive pillars decorated with the traditional «capels et chapiteaux». The half-timbered construction is very decorative. The roof with four slopes are covered with flat tiles and canal tiles where the siding of the roof slopes meet. The pinnacle or bellturret is extended with an elongated landing board.
This pigeon house in PUYLAURENS is on private property and cannot be approached. Fortunately, the trees had already lost their leaves, permitting me to admire its beautiful high spire, which is covered with fish scales roofing tiles. The pigeons fly from the base of this pinnacle.
Restored by fellow builders, the pigeon house of LEMPAULT is the type "castral" par excellence. Very elegant, it rests on pillars of low height. The cross sections of wood are found only on three sides. The four-sided roof is covered with fish scales roofing tiles and topped by a pinnacle with pigeon holes set in the base. The finial (l épi) is a pigeon on a ball.
I had some difficulty in finding this pigeon house in FRÉJEVILLE: I thought to be walking in a dead end road resulting in a farmyard. But when I asked a very kind gentleman he allowed me to enter his yard, and now although from the other side I could admire the pigeon tower a little further in the field in its full glory. It is shaped like a "cylindrical tower" There are only four of its kind in the Tarn. The roof type castral is covered with fish scales roofing tiles. The finial surmounting shows a beautiful pigeon on a ball.
This pigeon house in SAIX distinguishes itself by having eight pillars. A staircase under the body (caisse) allows access to the interior. Its pinnacle is rather short and on top is is a ceramic glazed pigeon on a square base.
The pigeon-house of PUECH AURIOL is built on private land. I started taking photographs from a small path. Then I met the owner who kindly invited me to enter his garden.
PUECH AURIOL 1852 It is octagonal and covered with a slate roof, finished with a cross. In the front, there is an ogival door and window. Above the window is a plate with three flying holes on a ledge of half-moon shaped sandstone. On each of the other 7 sides is one flying hole above the cornice ( randière ) of three layers of bricks.
According to the touristic document, one of the identified pigeon houses of the Tarn region had to be located in Albi, but it was impossible to find... Moreover, as the latter was at the other end of the department, the only one that is not in the west, and as it was on my way when I returned, I decided to give it another try this time. The address seemed to be inaccurate and first I discovered a beautiful castle. I can not resist the urge to show it to you... The pigeon house was built behind the castle, but as it was private, I could not come closer. I searched and finally found the tiny road marked on the document but not reported at the road junction! Again, I was lucky that the trees had lost their leaves. Together with the castle, it was a lovely picture.
The XII century Castle of SAUVETERRE
This round pigeon house in SAUVETERRE is built with different kinds of stone, ocher and gray coloured. The surrounding cornice ( randière ) is made of slate slabs. The roof is conical squat.
At Sauveterre ends the tour given by the Tourism Office of the Tarn region. However, traveling the back roads, I had the opportunity to see many others including some very beautiful ones. Many have been restored to serve as living quarters. Without dwelling on their architecture, I will show you a few.
This pigeon house with its four-sided roof with flat tiles is well integrated into the construction of the home.
A pigeon tower of the "mules foot type. It has been restored for habitation. Four-slope roof with flat tiles.
The above pigeon house serves the purpose of protecting the upper step of the stone staircase leasding to the house. Both of the below pigeon houses are habitable. They are located not far from SAUR.
A pigeon-house in COUFFOULEUX, "mules foot" type with four finials.
Without words
Two "mules foot" type pigeon houses near SAUR,the one surmounted by 8 pillars and the other surmounted by arches (arcades)
In SAINT-MARTIN D'AMOUR we found this beautifully rebuilt pigeon house in a garden. It is surmounted by pillars, the body halftimber with bricks, the roof with four slopes, covered with fish scales roofing tiles.
Not far from GAILLAC, there is this pigeon house with randières of ceramic tiles.
A RABASTENS, this pigeon house, restored by local inhabitants, is located in a small garden. It is surmounted by arches (type sur arcades ) and is topped with a ceramic pigeon on a ball.
CAZELLE
It is interesting to know that the Right for a Pigeon House was sometimes highly regulated. In the North, it was long the exclusive right of big landowners, whether lords or abbeys. One should own a minimum of 25 ha of land. However, in the South, in 1682, Simon Olive, Advisor to the Parliament of Toulouse, had decreed that it was "appropriate that it was allowed to everyone to build a pigeon-house. This explains their abundance presence in the region around Toulouse. The pigeons were appreciated both for the pigeon manure, which is essential to fertilise the crops and vineyards, and because the birds provided a tasty source of very tender fresh meat.
Finally, a pigeon house, type "pied de mulet" in CORDES SUR CIEL, restored by friends. Photos taken before and after its restoration, making it again habitable. During the work, another door was found at the rear and the used construction techniques suggest that the base was built in the thirteenth century. Beneath is a water reservoir.
Documentation: Document du Comité Départemental du Tourisme du Tarn Photos: M.J. Farizy-Chaussé November 2010 marijo855@gmail.com Copyright 2011 Aviculture-Europe. All rights reserved by VBC.
AU REVOIR See you soon!
DAMIATTE