If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 592

 

 

 

 

 

Lyon, La gare des Brotteaux et les jardins, France, ca 1908 

 

This unused black & white postcard features the Brotteaux railway station and garden in Lyon, France.  The original station was created in 1858, then replaced by the current station built in 1904 and inaugurated 29 March 1908.  Aside from the title that appears at the top of the card, there is no other information about the postcard company or the photographer. 

 

In 1982 the exterior of the building together with the roof and hall were classified as historical monuments.  In 1983 the new Gare de la Part-Dieu began to be used instead of this one.  The station on the card was closed because it needed extensive renovation, new platforms, plus better access and car parking to solve traffic problems.  The building for passengers retained the original décor and includes paintings by several artists.  In 1988 the building was rehabilitated by architect Yves Heskia.  It was sold the same year.  It currently hosts the auction house of Jean-Claude Anaf, the Brasserie de l’Est by Paul Bocuse, the architectural workshop of Arche, and other things.  In 2002 the station was renovated at a cost of 7.4 million euros.  That same year it was labeled heritage of the 20th century. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Les_Brotteaux_station

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 591

 

 

 

 

 

Bourg.  Place Carriat,  Société Générale, France, ca early 1900s

 

Today’s unused vintage postcards feature black & white photographs of from the prefecture Bourg-en-Bresse, located in Ain department of Eastern France, about 70 km or 43 miles northeast of Lyon.  The top card is numbered 29 at left of the title.  The photograph shows the square and fountain.  The company Léon & Lévy (LL) took the photographs and printed the card.  LL was a prolific postcard producer in France during the golden age of postcards, 1890 to 1915.  The logo LL or L.L. is found on the title line. 

 

The woman’s clothing, the fact that she is wearing a hat and carrying a parasol plus the horse drawn carriage at the right middle of the picture all provide a a way to date the photograph to the early 1900s.

 

 

Bourg, La Préfecture, France, ca early 1900s

 

This second card is numbered 12 at the left of the title.  It also has the LL. Logo and features a black & white photograph, this time of the Prefecture building.  Although there are no people in this picture it has the same green backing as the top card.  That together with the number 12 suggests that it is also from the early 1900s.

 

In Bourg-en-Bresse agriculture and agro-industry include things like cultivation of cereals, cattle breeding, milk and cheese production and poultry farming.  Tourism and handcrafts also play important parts in the economy.  Several colleges and research institutions are located in Bourg-en-Bresse too. 

 

Not much is known of the early history; however, Roman remains have been found in Bourg-en-Bresse.  It became a free town in 1250 and became the capital of Savoy in the 15^th century.  It was the site of a 6-month siege during the Franco-Savoyard War of 1600-1601 when it finally ceded to France. 

 

I purchased both cards, found in a shoe box jumble of postcards, at a local antique mall.  

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourge-en-Bresse

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ain

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%C3%A9on_%26_L%C3%A9vy

 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 590

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinan, Place Ductos, France, ca early 1900s

 

Similar to some of the other cards shared from this time period, this unused vintage postcard with a black & white real photograph, has a scene from the walled Breton town of Dinan.  The card above is numbered 79 at the lower left, and is titled:  DINAN. – Place Ductos or Ductos place.  It is French and has a divided back dating it to 1903 or later.  The publisher/distributor, identified as Artaud et Nozais, Ima.-Edit, Nantes [France], is written on the center line on the reverse.  Artaud et Nozais was actively producing photo postcards from 1910 to the 1920s.  Notice that although there are some horse-drawn carriages there are also automobiles.  Also, barely visible in the picture are the same telephone poles with insulators and wires as seen on the potato market cards shared 15 December 2022 and numbered 586.

 

A walled Breton town, Dinan, is exceptional because instead of being on the valley floor like most of the towns in this area, it is located on the hillside overlooking the river Rance.  Steep streets connect the town of Dinan with the port of Dinan.  The town also has rail connections to Saint-Brieuc, Lamballe, and Dol-de-Bretagne.  The town has many fine old buildings, some dating from the 13^th century.  A large section of the original city wall still exists and part of it can be walked around.  In even numbered year during the third week in July a two-day festival, Fệte des Remparts is held.  Many local residents dress in medieval costumes for the festival. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinan

 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 589

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dinard, France, ca early 1900s

 

This is another Léon & Lévy (LL) unused, black & white photograph postcard.  The number 138 is found at the lower left, the title, in English:  “The Church, After Mass.”  The company started using the LL. Trademark in 1901.  The picture shows one horse drawn carriage and another horse, entering the scene from the right side.  The rest of the vehicles are automobiles putting the date in the early 1900s.

 

Dinard is located in the Ille-et-Vilaine department, Brittany, northwestern France.  The climate is mild and the beaches make it a popular holiday destination.  The resident population of 10,000 swells to about 40,000 during the summer.  An international film festival is held here and there are villas and luxury hotels as well as a casino.  It is considered one of the most prestigious seaside resorts in France.  Only a few of the town’s larger houses built by shipping merchants from Saint-Malo have survived until today.  The resort was popular with wealthy British nationals who built villas on the tops of cliffs and the hillsides along the coast. 

 

 

 

Luxury homes built on the cliff side, [photo from Wikipedia]

 

For additional information and more photos, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dinard