DOVECOTES TOUR
Tour by car - 60 Kms. - Not signposted

Curiosities

• 20 different dovecotes
• Bastides
• Typical Lomagne farms

Start at covered market in Beaumont: royal bastide (XIIIth century), holiday village, race track, fortified church, covered market (XIVth century), half-timbered houses, birthplace of Pierre Fermat, famous mathematical genius born in the XVIIth century (tower and permanent exhibition). GAEC du Blanc: traditional garlic drier, sale of garlic.

Take the D3 towards Toulouse.  Cross the Gimone river and take the D98 road, the first turning on the right (Escazeaux direction). «Turelle» farm flanked by twin dovecote.  Not far, the spectacular «Picharrot» farm (XIXth century) flanked by twin dovecotes: one of them displays the gate stones of the Beaumont ancient ramparts.  Go straight on until you get to Escazeaux.  Lomagne landscapes.  Dovecote in «Samba».

Escazeaux: church, half-timbered houses, scenery.  Follow the D44 and D98 roads until you get to Gariès. At  «Embarrau», "pied de mulet" dovecote adjoining the farm.  Gariès: church with a XVIIth century bell tower. Take the Brignemont direction and go straight on towards Le Causé.  2 tower-dovecotes adjoining «Grangé» and «Roques».   At the crossroads, turn left and go in Le Causé direction; you will see an unique restored dovecote on your left, at «Lestéou».

Come back to the crossroads and follow directions to Faudoas.  Gorgeous typical Lomagne farm.  At the crossroads take the first turning on the right.  Magnificient view of Lomagne valleys and Escudès chapel.  Go straight on until you get to Escazeaux and take Comberouger direction on your right.   At the first crossroads turn left towards «Talabère». In «Saint Agnan» you will see a "pied de mulet" dovecote, and in «Bruquet», an isolated dovecote.  Go past «Bruquet», at the first crossroads, take the first turning on the left.  At the next crossroads go straight on until you get to Saint Jean: "pied de mulet" dovecote and church.

 
 Map of the tour in PDF

Go through the village.  In «En Grenade» 2 twin dovecotes.  At the crossroads join the D3 on your right and you will see on your left 2 isolated "pied de mulet" dovecotes.  At the top of the hill turn left and take the D44 road (the "crests road"), in the direction of Vigueron. "Pied de mulet" dovecote in "Picharret" (XIXth century). Spectacular viewpoint over Beaumont.  dovecote of the château «Manau» (a bit hidden).  Vigueron: scenery, walks, lake, fishing, church.  Take Belbèze direction and you will see the prestigious private château of Escudès.  Belbèze: church, restored "pied de mulet" dovecote, impressive scenery.  Rejoin the D44 road and keep to your left.

At the pillar, go down to your left in the direction of Larrazet. Viewpoint over the Gimone valley.   Isolated dovecote. At the stop sign, go straight on and then take the first turning on the right (past the housing estate).  "Nobis farm": peeling and plaiting garlic demonstration, sale of garlic and onions and tasting (by appointment).   Larrazet: bastide, covered market, half-timbered houses, church and castle (XVIth century), causeway, shaded picnic area.  Come back to the crossroads near Nobis farm; go straight on and then take the first turning on the left.  Charming little tourist road along the Gimone.

In «Nadaux», "pied de mulet" dovecote.  Not so far away from here you will see the beautiful house of «Manas» and its fantastic dovecote over arcades.  At the crossroads take the first turning on the left to go back to Beaumont. Race horses stable.  Here you will see two wonderful houses with unusual dovecotes: «La Camberle» with twin dovecotes made of brick (XIXth cent) and the hexagonal tower-dovecote adjoining «Le Toureilh» house (1652).