Visited the Chateau de Breze today which was fascinating. It is known as le chateau sous un chateau, or the castle under a castle, as much of it is underground and is fascinating to explore. This is actually the interior of the dovecote or pigeon house. The dimensions of a Lord's dovecote were a reflection of the size and importance of his lands. Each niche corresponded to a half acre of tillable land and this one had 3700 niches.
Pigeons were needed in great numbers though to establish a reliable avenue of communication.....how things have changed!