Location: Portes (Gates) – 58 postcards.
There are five “portes” or “gates” into Vence old town. Porte du Peyra, leading to Place du Peyra, is one of the original gates, dating back to 1582. Le Pontis, a large arched passageway that you will find at the end of the small market street was not one of the original gates to the city. It was opened in 1863 to give villagers another way into the old town. Originally called “Le Pontis” it was renamed “Alsace Lorraine” in memory of the Eastern provinces of France that were lost in the war of 1870. La Porte d’Orient is also not an original entrance into the city. It was opened in 1760 by Monseigneur Moreau so that he could easily reach the Great Seminary. La Porte du Signadour dates from the 14th century. It was known as the “watchtower gate” and it was used as a lookout post over the horizon during troubled times. The tower no longer stands, but the gate remains. Le Portail Levis, the “Drawbridge Gate,” is the oldest gate of the town, dating back to the 14th century.
All of these beautiful portes (or gates) are featured prominently in the postcards of this collection. Additionally, there are other smaller portes found inside the old town which show up from time to time. On interesting note is that la Cour de l’Ancien Éevêché once had two portes, on at each end of the courtyard. Only one now remains.
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.
All postcards are from the collection of Howard Shakespeare unless otherwise noted.
Click on any image to view a larger version.
Porte du Peyra
(Editions “La Cigogne”)
(Editions “La Cigogne”)
(Editions Photoguy)
(Editions Photoguy)
(Editions S.E.P.T.)
(Editions S.E.P.T.)
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
(Édition Picard)
(Rostan & Munier – Édition d’Art)
(Édition Picard)
(Rostan & Munier – Édition d’Art)
(Rostan & Munier – Édition d’Art)
(Etablissements Frédéric Laugier)
(Rostan & Munier – Édition d’Art)
(Etablissements Frédéric Laugier)
(Photochromie A.D.I.A.)
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
from the collection of Steve Wilkison
(Photochromie A.D.I.A.)
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
from the collection of Steve Wilkison
(Edition Pleint)
Porte Signadour (Portail du Signadour, Porte de Saint-Paul)
(Anciens Etab.)
(Ancien Etab.)
(Etablissements Frédéric Laugier)
(Etablissements Frédéric Laugier)
(Les Editions “MAR”)
(Les Editions “MAR”)
(P. Raynard, édit)
(P. Raynard, édit)
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
from the collection of Steve Wilkison
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
from the collection of Steve Wilkison
(Edition Cagnoli)
(Edition Picard)
(Edition Cagnoli)
(Edition Picard)
(Levy et Neurdein Reunis)
(ND Phot)
(Levy et Neurdein Reunis)
(ND Phot)
(Neurdein Frères)
(Vue Orsoni)
(Neurdein Frères)
(Vue Orsoni)
Porte d’Orient (Portail du Levant, Porte du Siège, Porte Saint-Véran)
(rue Saint-Véran & Porte d’Orient)
(Bonnafoux)
(Collection “Eclecta”)
(Bonnafoux)
(Collection “Eclecta”)
(Rostan & Munier – Édition d’Art)
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
from the collection of Steve Wilkison
(Rostan & Munier – Édition d’Art)
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
from the collection of Steve Wilkison
(Editions la Cigogne)
(Editions Photoguy)
(Editions la Cigogne)
(Editions Photoguy)
(Levy Fils et Cie)
from the collection of Steve Wilkison
(Photocouleur A.D.I.A.)
(Levy Fils et Cie)
from the collection of Steve Wilkison
(Photocouleur A.D.I.A.)
(F.R.)
(Édition Merle)
(F.R.)
(Édition Merle)
(Edition Pleint)
Portail Levis (Porte Levis)
(Editions Photoguy)
(Editions Photoguy)
(Etablissements Frédéric Laugier)
(Etablissements Frédéric Laugier)
(Tronc-Founade)
(Tronc-Founade)
(Rostan & Munier – Édition d’Art)
(Rostan & Munier – Édition d’Art)
(Etablissements Frédéric Laugier)
(Etablissements Frédéric Laugier)
(Etablissements Frédéric Laugier)
(Etablissements Frédéric Laugier)
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
(Les Belles Editions Françaises)
(Phototypie A.D.I.A.)
(Les Belles Editions Françaises)
(Phototypie A.D.I.A.)
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
from the collection of Steve Wilkison
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
from the collection of Steve Wilkison
Portail de l’Évêché (Portail de l’Ancien Évêché)
(Levy Fils et Cie)
(Levy Fils et Cie)
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
(F.R.)
(ND Phot)
(F.R.)
(ND Phot)
(P. Raynard, édit)
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
from the collection of Steve Wilkison
(P. Raynard, édit)
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
from the collection of Steve Wilkison
Porte Renaissance
(Levy et Neurdein Reunis)
(Levy et Neurdein Reunis)
(Tronc-Founade)
(Tronc-Founade)
Unnamed Porte on Place Godeau
(Anciens Etab.)
(Anciens Etab.)
Unknown Porte
(Lombard Éditeur)
(Lombard Éditeur)
