The dovecotes of Murviel
Most often facing south or south-east, the traditional dovecote has a dormer window on the last level of this face to allow the pigeons to circulate, sheltered from the prevailing winds and rain. The size of the flight holes prevented larger birds from entering, particularly birds of prey that might prey on the eggs or young pigeons.
As far as dovecotes are concerned, Murviel-lès-Béziers is a leader in the community of communes: the 1733 compoix lists no fewer than twenty-one, many of which are still in existence. Two are mentioned within the village walls: the first overlooking the street that runs ‘from the square to the church’, the second in Portuguières, to the south of the castle terrace, but the castle tower itself, dated 1602, was probably already being used as a dovecote; the brick and tile bolts have survived. Six others are associated with houses in the immediate suburbs, at Daissan and Parets. The last thirteen take the form of towers associated with other farm buildings scattered throughout the commune. The wealthy estates of Saint-Martin (des Champs), owned by Monsieur de Gayon, and Artix (now Yvernès), owned by Guillaume Yvernès, also had a stable, a sheepfold (jasse), a poultry house, a farmyard, a bunker (soude), a bread oven, an olive loft and a well.
