STEVE AND CAROLE IN VENCE

Vence Postcards
The Baous

Location: The Baous – 60 postcards.

One of the most famous natural landmarks in Vence is the Baou des Blancs. It’s visible from just about anywhere in town, towering above the houses and buildings to the north. In the south of France a “baou” is a cliff or escarpment that often has a flat top and extends outward from a hill or mountain. It’s a term that you will only hear in this part of the country. The spelling is Provençal and while there may certainly be similar geographic features in other parts of the country, they likely won’t be referred to as “baous.”

Vence sits on a small plateau under four such baous, strung together in a chain running from the west to the east: Baou des Blancs, Baou des NoirBaou de Saint-Jeannet and Baou de la Gaude. The Baou de Saint-Jeannet is the most dramatic, looming over the small village of Saint-Jeannet which sits nestled at its base. The Baou des Blancs and Baou des Noir take their names from two religious brotherhoods that originated in the 13th century: the Pénitents Blancs (White Penitents) and the Pénitents Noirs (Black Penitents). Devoting their time to charitable activities in their communities, the members would climb the baous as a part of an annual procession.

The various baous are featured quite often in these postcards (the Baou des Blancs being the most popular), sometimes as a main focal point and other times simply in the background.

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.

Baou des Blancs, Baou des Noirs, Baou de Saint-Jeannet & Baou de la Gaude

Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Anciens Etab 1317 - Front
1317 – Les Quatre Baons (sic)
Typo, should be “Baous”
(Anciens Etab.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Anciens Etab 1317 - Back
1317 – Back
(Anciens Etab.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Braun & Cie - 301 - Front
301 – Vue générale et les Baous
(Braun & Cie)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Braun & Cie - 301 - Back
301 – Back
(Braun & Cie)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Cagnoli, Papeterie, Vence 4 - Front
4 – Vence et les Quatre Baous
(Cagnoli Papeterie)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Cagnoli, Papeterie, Vence 4 - Back
4 – Back
(Cagnoli Papeterie)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Editions "La Cigogne" 06.157.21 Front
05.157.21 – Vue générale et les Baous
(Editions “La Cigogne”)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Editions "La Cigogne" 06.157.21 Back
05.157.21 – Back
(Editions “La Cigogne”)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Éditions d'Art Yvon Paris 10060945 Front
10 06 0945 – Vue aérienne. Au fond, les Baous Aerial view.
(Éditions d’Art Yvon Paris)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Éditions d'Art Yvon Paris 10060945 Back
10 06 0945 – Back
(Éditions d’Art Yvon Paris)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - ELD 1765 Front
1765 – Les 4 Baous
(ELD)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - ELD 1765 Back
1765 – Back
(ELD)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Imp. E Le Deley 1765 Front
1765 – Les 4 Baous
(Imp. E. Le Deley)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Imp. E Le Deley 1765 Back
1765 – Back
(Imp. E. Le Deley)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - FG 2 Front
2 – Place Nationale et les Quatre « Baous »
(FG)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - FG 2 Back
2 – Back
(FG)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Lévy et Neurdein Réunis 4 - Front
4 – Vence et les quatre Baous
(Lévy & Neurdein Réunis)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Lévy et Neurdein Réunis 4 - Back
4 – Back
(Lévy & Neurdein Réunis)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - ND Phot - 1016 Front
1016 – Les Quatre Baous
(ND Phot)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - ND Phot - 1016 Back
1016 – Back
(ND Phot)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Levy Fils et Cie 4 Front
4 – Vence et les Quatre Baoûs
(Levy Fils & Cie)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Levy Fils et Cie 4 Back
4 – Back
(Levy Fils & Cie)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - G. Rossat Mignod 5130 Front
5130 – Vue sur les “BAOU”
(G. Rossat-Mignod)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - G. Rossat Mignod 5130 Back
5130 – Back
(G. Rossat-Mignod)

Baou des Noirs, Baou de Saint-Jeannet & Baou de la Gaude

Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Anciens Etab - 1309 Front
1309 – Les Baons (sic)
(Anciens Etab.)
Typo, should be “Baous”
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Anciens Etab - 1309 Back
1309 – Back
(Anciens Etab.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Collection La Cigogne - 2152 Front
2152 – Vue générale et les Baous
(Collection La Cigogne Booklet)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Collection La Cigogne - 2141 Back
2152 – Back
(Collection La Cigogne Booklet)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Edition Photo Artistique Ed. MARX - Front
VENCE (A.-M.)
(Edition Photo Artistique Ed. MARX)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Edition Photo Artistique Ed. MARX - Back
Back
(Edition Photo Artistique Ed. MARX)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Editions S.E.P.T. 88/55 Front
88-55 – Vue générale – Au fond : les Baous de St-Jeannet
(Editions S.E.P.T.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Editions S.E.P.T. 88/55 Back
88-55 – Back
(Editions S.E.P.T.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Establissement de photographie Giletta Front
Les trois Baous
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Establissement de photographie Giletta Back
Back
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Etablissement de Photographie Giletta - Front
et son Diadème
Baou de St-Jeannet
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Etablissement de Photographie Giletta - Back
Back
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - J. Gilletta et Cie - Front
Les trois Baous
(J. Gilletta et Cie)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - J. Gilletta et Cie - Back
Back
(J. Gilletta et Cie)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Les Editions "MAR" 14775 Front
14775 – Vue générale sur la Ville et la Chaîne des BAOUS
(Les Editions “MAR”)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Les Editions "MAR" 14775 Back
14775 – Back
(Les Editions “MAR”)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Photochromie A.D.I.A. 3936 Front
3936 – Vue générale et les Baoüs
(Photocromie A.D.I.A.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Photochromie A.D.I.A. 3936 Back
3936 – Back
(Photocromie A.D.I.A.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Édition d'Art, Rostan & Munier - 2003 - Front
2003 – Vue générale. Les Baous.
(Rostan & Munier – Édition d’Art)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Édition d'Art, Rostan & Munier - 2003 - Back
2003 – Back
(Rostan & Munier – Édition d’Art)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Rostan & Reneaud, Éditeurs 3021 Front
3021 – Vue Générale
(Rostan & Reneaud, Éditeurs)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Rostan & Reneaud, Éditeurs 3021 Back
3021 – Back
(Rostan & Reneaud, Éditeurs)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Photochromie A.D.I.A. 13225 Front
13225 – Vue Général et les Baous
(Photochromie A.D.I.A.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Photochromie A.D.I.A. 13225 Back
13225 – Back
(Photochromie A.D.I.A.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Cie des Arts Photomecaniques - 4085 Front
4085 – Panorama de la Ville
(Cie des Arts Photomécaniques)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Cie des Arts Photomecaniques - 4085 Back
4085 – Back
(Cie des Arts Photomécaniques)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Munier Editeur d'Art 14 Front
14 – Vue générale – from a booklet
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Munier Editeur d'Art Back
2 – Back – from a booklet
(Munier Editeur d’Art)

Baou des Blancs & Baou des Noirs

Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Edit. d'Art Munier 3 Front
3 – Vue générale – Baous des Blancs et Baou des Noirs
(Edit. d’Art Munier)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Edit. d'Art Munier 3 Back
3- Back
(Edit. d’Art Munier)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Establissement de photographie Giletta Front
Vue générale et le Baou des Blancs
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Establissement de photographie Giletta Back
Back
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)

Baou de St-Jeannet et Baou de la Gaude

Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Munier Editeur d'Art 4 Front
4. Vue générale – Baou de St-Jeannet et Baou de la Gaude
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Munier Editeur d'Art Back
4 – Back – from a booklet
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Establissement de photographie Giletta 4 Front
4 – Baous de St-Jeannet et de la Gaude
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Establissement de photographie Giletta 4 Back
4 – Back
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)

Baou des Blancs

Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Front
Pension “La Joie de Vivre”
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Back
Back
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Photochromie A.D.I.A. 3908 - Front
3908 – Le Baou des Blancs
(Photochromie A.D.I.A.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Photochromie A.D.I.A. 3908 - Back
3908 – Back
(Photochromie A.D.I.A.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Anciens Etab - 1300 Front
1300 – Le Baon (sic) des Blancs
(Anciens Etab.)
Typo, should be “Baou”
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Anciens Etab - 1300 Back
1300 – Back
(Anciens Etab.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Anciens Etab - 1311 Front
1311 – Route de St Jeannet et Baon (sic) des Blancs
Typo, should be “Baou”
(Anciens Etab.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Anciens Etab - 1311 Back
1311 – Back
(Anciens Etab.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Real-Photo - Cie des Arts Photomécaniques 828 - Front
828 – Le Musée Lapidaire, le Baou des Blancs et le Domaine St-Martin
(Cie des Arts Photomécaniques)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Real-Photo - Cie des Arts Photomécaniques 828 - Back
828 – Back
(Cie des Arts Photomécaniques)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Real-Photo - Cie des Arts Photomécaniques 828 - Front
828 – Le Musée Lapidaire, le Baou des Blancs et le Domaine St-Martin
(Alternate – Cap logo on front, different type on back)
(Cie des Arts Photomécaniques)
Oversized card – 10.5cm x 15cm
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Real-Photo - Cie des Arts Photomécaniques 828 - Back
828 – Back
(Cie des Arts Photomécaniques)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Combier Imprimeur Macon - Front
Vue sur le Baou des Blancs
(Combier Imprimeur Mâcon)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Combier Imprimeur Macon - Back
Back
(Combier Imprimeur Mâcon)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Combier Imp. Macon 344-16 - Front
44-16 – Vue générale – Le Baou et les Villas
Copyrighted 1963
Oversized card – 15cm x 10.5cm
(Combier Imp. Macon)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Combier Imp. Macon 344-16 - Back
44-16 – Back
(Combier Imp. Macon)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Establissement de photographie Giletta Front
Le Baou des Blancs
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Establissement de photographie Giletta Back
Back
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Establissement de photographie Giletta 1310 Front
1310 – Baou des Blancs
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Establissement de photographie Giletta 1310 Back
1310 – Back
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - ND Phot 746 - Front
746 – Le Baou des Blancs
(ND Phot)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - ND Phot 746 - Back
746 – Back
(ND Phot)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - ND Phot 1008 - Front
1008 – Le Claout et le Baou des Blancs
(ND Phot)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - ND Phot 1008 - Back
1008 – Back
(ND Phot)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Rostan & Munier - 2005 Front
2005 – Baou des Blancs
(Rostan & Munier – Édition d’Art)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Rostan & Munier - 2005 Back
2005 – Back
(Rostan & Munier – Édition d’Art)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Éditions S.E.P.T. - 88-58 - Front
88-58 – VENCE et ses environs
Au fond : le Baou de St Jeannet (wrong, it’s really le Baou des Blancs)
Dated 1955
(Editions S.E.P.T.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Éditions S.E.P.T. - 88-58 - Back
88-58 – Back
(Editions S.E.P.T.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Editions S.E.P.T. 88/244 Front
88/244 – Vue générale; au fond le Baou des Blancs
(Editions S.E.P.T.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Editions S.E.P.T. 88/244 Back
88/244 – Back
(Editions S.E.P.T.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - ELD 1762 Front
1762 – Le Baou de Vence (Le Baou des Blancs)
(ELD)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - ELD 1762 Back
1762 – Back
(ELD)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Etablissements Frédéric Laugier 30 Front
30 – Le Boulevard Paul-André et le Baou des Blancs
(Etablissements Frédéric Laugier)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Etablissements Frédéric Laugier 30 Back
30 – Back
(Etablissements Frédéric Laugier)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - J. Gilletta et Cie Front
Quartier du Claous et Baou des Blancs
(J. Gilletta et Cie)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - J. Gilletta et Cie Back
Back
(J. Gilletta et Cie)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Establissement de photographie Giletta Front
Le Baou des Blancs
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Establissement de photographie Giletta Back
Back
(Establissement de photographie Giletta)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Levi Et Neurdein Reunis 32 Front
32 – Le Boulevard Saint-André – Le Baou des Blancs
(Levy et Neurdein Reunis)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Levi Et Neurdein Reunis 32 Back
32 – Back
(Levy et Neurdein Reunis)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Munier Editeur d'Art - 15 Front
15 – Baou des Blancs
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Munier Editeur d'Art - 15 Back
15 – Back
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Munier Editeur d'Art 15 Front
15 – Baou des Blancs – from a booklet
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Munier Editeur d'Art Back
15 – Back – from a booklet
(Munier Editeur d’Art)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Rostan et Munier - 15 Front
15 – Baou des Blancs
(Rostan & Munier – Éditions d’Art)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Rostan et Munier - 15 Back
15 – Back
(Rostan & Munier – Éditions d’Art)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Cagnoli Papeterie 26 - Front
26 – La Baou des Blancs
(Cagnoli, Papeterie)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Cagnoli Papeterie 26 - Back
26 – Back
(Cagnoli, Papeterie)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Braun & Cie - 309 Front
309 – La Baou des Blancs vu de la route de Tourrettes
(Braun & Cie.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Imp. E Le Deley 1766 - Front
1766 – Le Baou de Vence (Baou des Blancs)
(Imp. E. Le Deley)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Braun & Cie - 309 Back
309 – Back
(Braun & Cie.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Imp. E Le Deley 1766 - Back
1766 – Back
(Imp. E. Le Deley)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Heliogravure Combier Macon - Front
Vue sur le Baou
(Heliogravure Combier Macon)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Heliogravure Combier Macon - Back
Back
(Heliogravure Combier Macon)

Baou de Saint-Jeannet

Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Editions d'Art Munier 42 - Front
42 – Viaduc de la Cagne et le Baou de Saint-Jeannet
(Editions d’Art Munier)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Anciens Etab - 1323 Front
1323 – Baon (sic) de Saint-Jeannet et Viaduc de la Cagne
(Anciens Etab.)
Typo, should be “Baou”
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Editions d'Art Munier 42 - Back
42 – Back
(Editions d’Art Munier)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Anciens Etab - 1323 Back
1323 – Back
(Anciens Etab.)
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Levy Fils et Cie 8 - Front
8 – Le Viaduc de la Cagne et le Baou de St-Jeannet
(Levy Fils et Cie)
Dated 1918
Steve and Carole in Vence - Vintage French Postcard - Levy Fils et Cie 8 - Back
8 – Back
(Levy Fils et Cie)