Pigeonnier de Roux de Corse (+ grand d'Europe) - Brue-Auriac, France
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member YvesProvence
N 43° 31.678 E 005° 56.956
31T E 738327 N 4823672
Ce pigeonnier, monument historique, est entré dans le livre des records comme le plus grand pigeonnier d'Europe. This pigeon house, a historical monument, has entered the book of records as the largest pigeon house in Europe.
Waymark Code: WMV55F
Location: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Date Posted: 02/25/2017
Published By:Groundspeak Premium Member Chickilim
Views: 14

Le pigeonnier de Roux de Corse Le 28 mars 1746 Georges Roux achète à François Nicolas Dupin le fief de Brue, lieu inhabité du haut Var, et devient ainsi seigneur de Brue. Dès juillet 1746 et malgré la guerre de Succession d'Autriche qui frappe la Provence (l'armée austro-sarde progresse jusqu'à Draguignan), Georges Roux entreprend la construction d'un château qui s'achève en octobre 1750. Afin d'affirmer son autorité et manifester sa puissance il fait construire un colombier dont les dimensions sont imposantes : la tour dont de 12 m de diamètre interne s'élève à 22,50 m de hauteur ; à l'intérieur 8 100 alvéoles également appelés "boulins" garnissent l'intérieur des parois. Ces boulins sont construits en briques, ce qui est le mode le plus avantageux pour les pigeons car ce matériau est isolant.

À l'extérieur une double ceinture de carreaux vernissés lisses et brillants empêchent la progression des rats, prédateurs d'œufs. La plupart de ces carreaux sont tombés mais les traces de leur scellement sont encore bien visibles sur la paroi du pigeonnier. L'exploitation d'un colombier était très lucrative car il produisait des œufs et de la viande. De plus la fiente des pigeons, appelée "colombine", était un engrais azoté apprécié. Il ne faut donc pas s'étonner que Georges Roux et son épouse aient pu vivre des produits d'un tel colombier lorsque les revers financiers les y réduisirent.


The dovecote of Roux de Corse On March 28, 1746 Georges Roux bought Francois Nicolas Dupin the fief of Brue, uninhabited place of the Haut Var, and thus became lord of Brue. In July 1746, in spite of the war of Austrian Succession which struck Provence (the Austro-Sardinian army advanced to Draguignan), Georges Roux undertook the construction of a castle which was completed in October 1750. Asserting his authority and manifesting his power, he built a dovecote whose dimensions were imposing: the tower, 12 m in internal diameter, was 22.50 m high; Inside 8 100 alveoli also called "boulins" fill the inside of the walls. These bricks are made of brick, which is the most advantageous mode for pigeons because this material is insulating.

On the outside, a double belt of smooth glossy glazed tiles prevents the progression of rats, predators of eggs. Most of these tiles have fallen but the traces of their sealing are still clearly visible on the wall of the dovecote. The operation of a dovecote was very lucrative because it produced eggs and meat. Moreover, pigeon droppings, called "colombine", were a popular nitrogen fertilizer. It is therefore not surprising that Georges Roux and his wife were able to live on the products of such a dovecote when the financial setbacks reduced them there.


Sources :
(If known) Approximately how many pigeonholes in the dovecote?: 8 100

Visit Instructions:
The only condition to visit a Dovecote waymark is to upload at least one personal photo of the structure. Also, tell us a little about your visit and your opinion about its architecture.
Search for...
Geocaching.com Google Map
Google Maps
MapQuest
Bing Maps
Nearest Waymarks
Nearest Dovecotes
Nearest Geocaches
Create a scavenger hunt using this waymark as the center point
Recent Visits/Logs:
Date Logged Log  
Sharkz31 visited Pigeonnier de Roux de Corse (+ grand d'Europe) - Brue-Auriac, France 12/17/2017 Sharkz31 visited it