The avenues and boulevards of Vence (with one major exception) haven’t changed too much over the last 100 years and what you see in these postcards (for the most part) is very close to what you’ll see today. But, if you look carefully you can spot some very interesting developments over the years.
Avenue Marcellin-Maurel, which runs along the south side of the old town, was once lined with large plane trees. How beautiful it looks in a few of these old cards. The trees were all torn down in 1911 when a new tramway was built connecting Vence with the coast. It’s easy to spot the tracks in some of these photos. When the tramway was closed in 1932 the trees were not replaced.
The Basse Fontaine, located at the corner of Avenue Colonel Meyere (once known as Rue de l’Hôpital), was moved a bit closer to the buildings to make room for more traffic along the street. In many of these photos it holds a more prominent place near the center of the road.
The one major exception I mentioned above? Avenue de la Gare, which once ran in front of the Vence train station no longer exists, at least not in its original form. The portion that runs from Le Place du Grand Jardin to the big roundabout is now known as Avenue de la Résistance. Not surprising since the train station itself no longer exists as well. Parts of the line were destroyed during World War II and the decision was made to not rebuild it after the war.
Avenue des Poilus and Boulevard Paul-André are both represented here as well.
If you have any questions about any of the cards featured here, if you see any errors or if you would like more information, drop me an email at steve@steveandcaroleinvence.com.
Click on any image to view a larger version.
Avenue Marcellin-Maurel
1283 – L’Avenue Marcellin-Maurel (Anciens Etab.)
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1283 – Back (Anciens Etab.)
1304 – Le Porte du Signadom (misspelled! should be Signadour) et l’Avenue Marcellin-Maurel (Anciens Etab.)
1304 – Back (Anciens Etab.)
1322 – Place Nationale et Avenue Marcellin-Maurel (Anciens Etab.)
1322 – Back (Anciens Etab.)
L’Avenue Marcellin-Maurel (Edition Cagnoli)
Back (Edition Cagnoli)
Avenue Marcelin (sic) Maurel (Establissement de photographie Giletta)
Back (Establissement de photographie Giletta)
1453 – La Porte Saint-Véran (1787) (Tabac Presse du Grand Jardin)
1453 – Back (Tabac Presse du Grand Jardin)
21 – La Porte de Signadour et Avenue Marcelin-Maurel (sic) – from a booklet (Munier Editeur d’Art)
21 – Back – from a booklet (Munier Editeur d’Art)
905 – Avenue Marcelin-Maurel (sic) (ND Phot)
1018 – L’Avenue Marcelin-Maurel (sic) (ND Phot)
905 – Back (ND Phot)
1018 – Back (ND Phot)
Avenue de la Résistance (Avenue de la Gare)
Place Nationale – Avenue de la Gare (Avenue de la Résistance) (Edit. E. Lombard)
Back (Edit. E. Lombard)
L’Avenue de la Gare (Avenue de la Résistance) (Edition Cagnoli)
Back (Edition Cagnoli)
8 – Avenue de la Gare (Avenue de la Résistance) (Édition Giletta)
8 – Back (Édition Giletta)
7 – L’Avenue de la Gare (Avenue de la Résistance) (Edition L.R.)
7 – Back (Edition L.R.)
06.157.70 – Le Carrefour de l’Ara et l’Avenue de la Résistance (Editions la Cigogne)
06.157.70 – Back (Editions la Cigogne)
41 – Place de la République et Avenue de la Gare (Etablissements Frédéric Laugier)
41 – Back (Etablissements Frédéric Laugier)
La Promenade, avenue de la Gare (Establissement de photographie Giletta)
Back (Establissement de photographie Giletta)
La Promenade, avenue de la Gare (Establissement de photographie Giletta)
Back (Establissement de photographie Giletta)
11 – Avenue de la Gare – Villa Saint-Hubert (Establissement de photographie Giletta)
11 – Back (Establissement de photographie Giletta)
8 – Place Nationale et Avenue de la Gare (Levy Fils et Cie)
8 – Back (Levy Fils et Cie)
8 – Avenue de la Gare (Levy Fils et Cie)
8 – Back (Levy Fils et Cie)
1023 – La Place Nationale et l’Avenue do la Gare (Imp. Phot. Neurdein et Cie)
Back (Imp. Phot. Neurdein et Cie)
Place Nationale – Avenue de la Gare (unknown manufacturer)