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Dovecote
Tucked away behind Le Bâtiment, the Dovecote has a surprising history. Previously located on land being developed for a motorway a few dozen kilometers from Thiré, it was saved from destruction by William Christie, who had it disassembled and then reconstructed stone by stone in his garden, where it now bustles with activity, providing shelter for the many birds on the property. And who can imagine the gardens of William Christie without the irresistible charm of the fantail pigeons, lifting off in a white cloud at the musical promenades each year?
The Dovecote, in William Christie's words:
Although a genuine late-16th-century building, this dovecote was not part of the property when I bought the house. It formerly stood about ten kilometers away, where the Nantes-Bordeaux freeway now runs, and I was able to save it from destruction. Alain Prézeau, a stonemason with the Compagnons du Devoir, dismantled it stone by stone, numbering each one in order to rebuild it in my garden. In terms of the renovation and beautification of my home, I think this was one of the most important and determining ideas.
The irises of the Dovecote
Very hardy flowers, bearded irises thrive in the poor, well-drained soil that surrounds the Pigeon House. The irises are dug up and divided every two years to keep them healthy and to promote flowering.
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