Besanceuil Dovecote

We first saw this pigeonnier (dovecote) when visiting Besanceuil last week to look at the 11th to 14th century Chateau and the picturesque village.

What was fascinating was the background. Only aristocrats were allowed to keep Dovecotes, where they raised pigeons, the size of which was related to their wealth. Pigeons were used for food as well as feathers and their droppings for fertiliser. While the aristocrats loved the system, it was often the peasant’s grain that was eaten – so there was strong opposition. It is thought that this opposition may have eventually lead to the end of pigeon farming.

Going back to Besanceuil a few days ago to buy local produce, gave us the chance to see inside the dovecote. The photo below is a shot looking up towards the top center of the building.

The boulins (nesting places) or pigeon holes are formed in an inner wall using the shaped stone commonly used for building in the area – around 1 200 boulins in this case. The vertical beam holds the ladder, shown against the boulins to the right of the picture. The ladder rotates around the vertical beam giving access to all the nests.

All there and ready to start operating tomorrow, after all these years. An amazing unused structure and tool unnoticed in the Burgundy countryside!

some internet material at:

http://photopatrimoine.over-blog.com/article-3563686.html

http://pigeonniers24.free.fr/page10.html

http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/education/dovecots.htm

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colombier_%28%C3%A9difice%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dovecote#Dovecotes_of_France