the dovecote at Clos Lucé

Yesterday I (digitally) posted a shot of the interior of this clever building.  I say clever because the following is a description that is (physically) posted outside:

"The dovecote or "fuye" of the Château du Clos Lucé was built in 1480 by Etienne le Loup ....  The dovecote, unique of its kind in the Touraine, consists of a square exterior and an octagonal interior, and is built of brick, tuta limestone and mortar.  The angles between the outer and inner walls allow for a constant circulation of air essential for the successful hatching and rearing of young birds.  Two thirds of the way up the outside wall is the "larmier", a flat outcrop of projecting stones, convex on the lower side, to which slates were nailed to prevent predators, rats, ferrets, weasels, from climbing into the dovecote to steal eggs, drink the blood of young pigeons and drive away the parent birds.  A gap at the base of the roof timers allowed the birds to enter and leave the dovecote.  The roof is covered in flat tiles and topped by a finial in the form of a phallus, symbolizing fertility."