Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: pigeonnier

The Benedictian abbey in Blasimon, dedicated to Saint Nicolas, was probably a "filiation" of the abbey in Saint-Jean-d’Angély (180kms north). Since 1166 it was linked to the Abbaye de La Sauve-Majeure (50kms west, near Bordeaux). Just like Sauve-Majeure, the Abbaye Saint-Nicolas is in ruins. The large complex was erected between the 12th and the 15th century, but only this tower, used as a pigeonnier, the church in the background and a tiny part of the cloister have survived. Many churches in the area, erected in the late 12th century (eg Castelviel), were built after this "trendsetting model".