FR-1057599 Mont-de-Marsan, France

Mont-de-Marsan is a commune and capital of the Landes department in Nouvelle-Aquitaine in southwestern France.

Mont-de-Marsan is a medieval town where the Douze and Andou Rivers meet. It was created from scratch as a walled settlement in the 1100s, and a few fortified houses and scraps of the old walls remain from this time. For hundreds of years Mont-de-Marsan flourished through trade, shipping Armagnac brandy and other regional delights down the Midouze to the Atlantic.

The riverside is lined with stone warehouses and quays . 

This postcard from Joana D. (Postcrossing, October 2018) shows a very picturesque sight of this town.

FR-865355 The Louvre

The Louvre is the world's largest museum and a historic monument in Paris, France. A central landmark of the city, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine. Approximately 38,000 objects from prehistory to the 21st century are exhibited.

The museum is housed in the Louvre Palace, originally built as a fortress in the late 12th century under Philip II. 

The museum opened on 10 August 1793 with an exhibition of 537 paintings, the majority of the works being royal and confiscated church property. Because of structural problems with the building, the museum was closed in 1796 until 1801. The collection was increased under Napoleon but after Napoleon's abdication many works seized by his armies were returned to their original owners. The collection was further increased during the reigns of Louis XVIII and Charles X, and during the Second French Empire the museum gained 20,000 pieces. Holdings have grown steadily through donations and bequests since the Third Republic. The collection is divided among eight curatorial departments: Egyptian Antiquities; Near Eastern Antiquities; Greek, Etruscan and Roman Antiquities; Islamic Art; Sculpture; Decorative Arts; Paintings; Prints and Drawings. (Wikipedia)

This postcard came from Aurore (2 June 2017).

FR-711175 The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (Sacré-Cœur Basilica)

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, commonly known as Sacré-Cœur Basilica,  is a Roman Catholic church and minor basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, in Paris, France. This church is a popular landmark.  It is located at the summit of the butte Montmartre, the highest point in the city. Sacré-Cœur is a double monument, political and cultural, both a national penance for the defeat of France in the 1871 Franco-Prussian War and an embodiment of conservative moral order, publicly dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which was (and is) an increasingly popular vision of a loving and sympathetic Christ.

The Sacré-Cœur Basilica was began in 1875 and was finished in 1914. It was consecrated after the end of World War I in 1919. The overall style of the structure shows a free interpretation of Romano-Byzantine features, an unusual architectural vocabulary at the time. Many design elements of the basilica symbolise nationalist themes: the portico, with its three arches, is adorned by two equestrian statues of French national saints Joan of Arc and King Saint Louis IX, both executed in bronze. The nineteen-ton Savoyarde bell (one of the world's heaviest), cast in 1895, alludes to the annexation of Savoy in 1860. (Source: Wikipedia)
This postcard came from Chris (15 July 2016) Postcrossing.

RU-4119781 La Vieille a lighthouse in the northwest coast of France

La Vieille ("The Old Lady" or "The Wrass") is a lighthouse in the département of Finistère at the commune of Plogoff, on the northwest coast of France. It lies on the rock known as Gorlebella (Breton for "farthest rock"), guiding mariners in the strait Raz de Sein, across from the companion lighthouse Tourelle de la Plate—also known as Petite Vieille ("Little Old Woman"). It is among the small class of lighthouses around the coasts of France carrying the moniker "hell", due to a remote position in rough seas.

This lighthouse was constructed in 1882-1887 and was automated in 1995.  The tower of La Vieille is 27 m (89 ft).  The range of its light is 18 nautical miles (33 kms).

This postcard came from Anya (5 December 2015) Postcrossing.

DE-4577351 The château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg

The château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg (German: Hohkönigsburg) is a medieval castle located at Orschwiller, Alsace, France, in the Vosges mountains just west of Sélestat. It is situated in a strategic location on a rocky spur overlooking the Upper Rhine Plain; as a result it was used by successive powers from the Middle Ages until the Thirty Years' War when it was abandoned.
The ruins had been listed as a monument historique of the Second French Empire since 1862 and were purchased by the township of Sélestat (Schlettstadt) three years later. When after the Franco-Prussian War of 1870/71 the region was incorporated into the German Imperial Territory of Alsace-Lorraine, the citizens granted the remnants of the castle to the German emperor Wilhelm II in 1899. Wilhelm wished to create a castle lauding the qualities of the medieval time of Alsace and more generally of German civilization stretching from Hohkönigsburg in the west to (likewise restored) Marienburg Castle in the east. He also hoped it would reinforce the bond of Alsatians with Germany, as they had only recently been incorporated into the newly established German Empire. Work proceeded from 1900 to 1908. On May 13, 1908, the restored Hohkönigsburg was inaugurated in presence of the Emperor.
After World War I, the French state confiscated the castle according to the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. In 1993, the restored castle was officially designated as a national historic site by the French Ministry of Culture. Today, it is one of the most famous tourist attractions of the region.
For many years it was considered fashionable in France to sneer at the castle because of its links to the German emperor. Many considered it to be nothing more than a fairy tale castle similar to Neuschwanstein. However, in recent years many historians have established that, although it is not a completely accurate reconstruction, it is at least interesting for what it shows about Wilhelm II's romantic nationalist ideas of the past and the architect's work.  Source: Wikipedia

This postcard came from Sibylle (5 November 2015) Postcrossing.

FR-571446 Mont Saint-Michel in France

Le Mont-Saint-Michel is an island commune in Normandy, France. It is located approximately one kilometre (0.6 miles) off the country's northwestern coast at the mouth of the Couesnon River near Avranches. The island is 100 hectares (247 acres) in size and has a population in 2009 of 44 people.

The island has held strategic fortifications since ancient times and since the 8th century it has been the seat of the monastery from which it draws its name. The structural composition of the town exemplifies the feudal society that constructed it: on top, God, the abbey and monastery; below, the great halls; then stores and housing; and at the bottom, outside the walls, fishermen's and farmers' housing.

Mont Saint-Michel’s unique position of being an island only 600 metres from land made it readily accessible at low tide to the many pilgrims to its abbey. Equally, this position made it readily defensible as an incoming tide stranded, drove off, or drowned, would-be assailants. By capitalizing on this natural defence the Mont remained unconquered during the Hundred Years' War with a small garrison successfully defending it against a full attack by the English in 1433. The reverse benefits of its natural defence were not lost on Louis XI who turned the Mont into a prison. Thereafter the abbey began to be used more regularly as a jail during the Ancien Régime.

Mont Saint-Michel is one of France's most recognizable landmarks. Mont Saint-Michel and its bay are part of the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites and more than 3 million people visit it each year.       Source: Wikipedia

This postcard came from Brigitte (22 September 2015) Postcrossing.

WC 87-513 Paris, France

Paris is the capital and most-populous city of France. It is situated on the Seine River. The City of Paris has an area of 105.4 square kilometres (40.7 square miles) and had a population of 2,241,346 within its city limits in 2014. The Paris Region covers 12,012 square kilometres (4,638 square miles), and has its own regional council and president. It had a population of 12,005,077 as of 2014, or 18.2 percent of the population of France.

This vintage postcard of Paris came from Jennifer H. ( jendoggie ) 6 July 2015 Swap-bot.

DE-4327937 Château Guillaume-le-Conquérantis (Château de Falaise)

The Château Guillaume-le-Conquérantis (Château de Falaise) is a castle located in the south of the commune of Falaise ("cliff" in French) in the region of Normandy, France. William the Conqueror, the son of Duke Robert of Normandy, was born at the castle in about 1028. William went on to conquer England and become king and possession of the castle descended through his heirs until the 13th century when it was captured by King Philip II of France.

Possession of the castle changed hands several times during the Hundred Years' War. The castle was deserted during the 17th century. Since 1840 it has been protected as a monument historique.

This postcard came from Yasemin (3 July 2015) Postcrossing.

WC 32-164 SNCF Class CC 7100

SNCF (Société nationale des chemins de fer français) is the "National society of French railways" or "French National Railway Company"

There are 60 locomotives in SNCF's CC 7100 class (and the earlier CC 7000).  These are electric locomotives built by Alsthom. The prototype 'CC 7000' (7001 & 7002) were built in 1949 and the production series locomotives CC 7101-CC 7158 followed during 1952–1955. Two of the class are notable for setting world rail speed records: CC 7121 reaching 243 kilometres per hour (151 mph) on 21 February 1954, and CC 7107 reaching 331 kilometres per hour (206 mph) on 28/29 March 1955.

This postcard came from Darla Maple (dartha) Swap-bot 24 June 2014.  I like the illustration of this class CC 7100 locomotive because it is almost similar to the illustrations in Märklin catalogues of the 1970’s.

SW EU-444 A traditional house in Alsace

Alsace is the Germanic region of France. It is a region lying on the west bank of the river Rhine, between the Rhine and the Vosges mountains. To the north and east it shares a border with Germany; to the south with German-speaking Switzerland, and to the west with Lorraine and Franche Comté.

There has been and there remains today a strong Germanic influence on the architecture found in Alsace.  Alsace house types and the materials used can be categorized in the wide German «pan de bois» (half-timbering) architectural family. This architectural family uses many local symbols and decorations. These symbols appear on porches, doors and on the pieces of wood used to make the half-timbered walls.

While today people are free - within limits - to choose what colour to paint a building, in the past the colours had a significance, and town houses, which often had shops or boutiques on the ground floor, were painted according to the type of shop - bakeries in one colour, butchers in another, shoemakers in a third colour, and so on. Today that is no longer the case, but the tradition of brightly coloured half-timbered houses has become firmly established as the local Alsatian style.

Unlike the houses found in the villages of neighbouring Lorraine, those of the Alsatian villages are always independent from each other. They never share a common wall and each house serves as a unique entity while still integrating itself harmoniously with the whole village. The façade facing the street is the narrowest.

Due to the climate the roof of the typical Alsace house is predominantly steeply pitched (up to 60 degrees) and the typical roof covering is flat clay tiles (tuiles écaille alsaciennes) which are specific to the Alsace and neighbouring areas of north eastern France.

This postcard came from Julie G. (Blodwyn) (21 January 2015) Swap-bot.

SW EP-357 La Grande Roue de Paris

La Grande Roue de Paris must have been an awe inspiring sight.  This wheel was built for the Exposition Universelle of 1900 World’s Fair in Paris, France. La Grande Roue actually opened the year before the World Fair and was part of a larger area of restaurants, theatres, and other entertainment that was in full swing in 1899. It was at the southeastern edge of the more glamorous Fair and would be located in what we might now call an entertainment district.

At 106 metres (over 300 feet), La Grande Roue de Paris was the tallest panoramic wheel to date and it would hold that record for more than eight decades, long after it had been torn down. Each of the 40 carriages carried 40 passengers and the arrangement of stairs and loading platforms was designed to allow passengers to get on or off 8 carriages at a time. With loading and unloading, each trip took 20 minutes. It was designed to transport 4,800 passengers an hour in cabins the size of railway carriages.

This ‘vintage’ (reproduction) postcard shows the Eiffel Tower in the background and was sent by Robyn (27 November 2014) Swap-bot.

FR-448819 Mont Blanc massif

The Mont Blanc massif (Massif du Mont-Blanc) is a mountain range in the Graian Alps. It is named after Mont Blanc, at 4,810.45 m the highest summit of the Alps. The massif is located in France (Haute-Savoie and Savoie), Italy (Aosta Valley), and Switzerland (western Valais).

There are about 60 main peaks in the Mont Blanc massif.  The 17 peaks more than 4,000 metres are:

Mont Blanc 4,810

Mont Blanc de Courmayeur 4,748

Mont Maudit 4,465

Picco Luigi Amedeo 4,460

Dôme du Goûter 4,304

Mont Blanc du Tacul 4,248

Grand Pilier d'Angle 4,243

Grandes Jorasses 4,208

Aiguille Verte 4,122

Aiguille Blanche de Peuterey 4,112

Mont Brouillard 4,069

Aiguille de Bionnassay 4,066

Pic Eccles 4,041

Dôme de Rochefort 4,015

Dent du Géant 4,013

Aiguille de Rochefort 4,001

Les Droites 4,000

This postcard came from Sophie (19 November 2014) Postcrossing.

SW DL-280 4 (four) Lighthouses of Brittany

There are 148 lighthouses in Brittany, one of them so old that it dates back to the time of Louis XIV. Some are perched on rocky islets lashed by waves; others sit safely on the coast, looking toward the ocean. Once, their lights guided sailors to safety. Today, 80 are still working, but many others are just majestic ghosts of the past.

(1) Phare du Cre’ac’h at Ouessant

This 54.85-metre high lighthouse is reputed to be the most powerful in the world.  It is situated on the island of Ouessant and was built in 1863.

(2) Phare du Four at Porspoder

This lighthouse is located 2 km off the peninsula of St Lawrence in the town of Porspoder. It is 11.50 metres high and is built on granite rock 25 metres in diameter. This lighthouse built 1869-1874 overlooks the Four Channel, the passage between the English Channel and the Iroise.

(3) Phare Les Pierres Noires ("Black Rocks") at Le Conquet

This lighthouse was built between 1867 and 1871. It lights the Saint Mathieu foreland. Originally mineral oil was used as light fuel, then lamp-oil vapors in 1903 and electricity was used from 1984. Automated since 1992, it is remotely controlled from Créac'h lighthouse (Ouessant Island).

(4) Phare de la Vieille ("The Old Lady") at Pointe du Raz

This lighthouse lies on the rock known as Gorlebella (Breton for "farthest rock"), guiding mariners in the strait Raz de Sein. Built in 1882-1887, this lighthouse is 27 metres high.

 

This postcard came from Isabelle K. (5 September 2014) Swap-bot.

 

 

SW CZ-243 Roquebrune Village

Roquebrune-Cap-Martin is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France between Monaco and Menton. The name was changed from Roquebrune. Today Roquebrune-Cap-Martin comprises several villages and towns: St.Roman, practically a suburb of Monaco, the residential areas of Cabbé, Bon Voyage and Serret, Roquebrune with its perched village and château, the posh Cap Martin peninsula and the modern seaside resort of Carnolès with its long pebble beach bordering Menton. All the area has a huge tourism activity.

This postcard from Briggy13 (26 August 2014) Swap-bot shows three panels of Roquebrune Village.  Here is one way of describing this village: “Roquebrune has winding narrow streets and alleys that are filled with staircases, built completely on the flanks of a steep mountain rising up from the blue sea. There are small windows and colourful doors everywhere and many little stairways leading to yet other doorways.”

SW DA-245 Fête des Brodeuses

The Fête des Brodeuses ("Embroidery Festival") in Pont-l’Abbé a little town in Finistère, isn't just about embroidery, it weaves a fabulous tale in honour of Bigouden's traditions and culture, including music and dancing.

Every July for over 50 years, this festival in Pont-l’Abbé brings Bigouden traditions back to life, and adds a dash of foreign folklore to the mix. It regularly attracts some thirty thousand visitors and the Fête des Brodeuses is like a vast patchwork quilt of music, dance, Breton bagpipes and Celtic folklore groups, spread over the town's streets and stages for four whole days. The festival ends with a gigantic finale in honour of the Embroidery Queen.

This postcard depicts the Ar Vro Vigoudenn Celtic Dance Group and was sent by Isabelle K. (magnyette) (15 Aug 2014) Swap-bot.

Our Lady of Lourdes

The Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to 14-year old Bernadette Soubirous on eighteen occasions at Lourdes. Lourdes has become a major place of Roman Catholic pilgrimage and of miraculous healings. The 150th Jubilee of the first apparition took place on 11 February 2008.

Lourdes is located in southern France in the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains. It is a small market town and has a population of around 15,000, but it is able to take in some 5,000,000 pilgrims and tourists every season.

Sanctuary of our Lady of Lourdes or The Domain (as it is more commonly called)

Yearly from March to October the Domain is a place of mass pilgrimage. The spring water from the grotto possesses healing properties. 200 million people have visited the shrine since 1860 and the Church has officially recognized 69 miraculous healings. Cures are examined using strict criteria for authenticity and authentic miracle healing with no physical or psychological basis other than the healing power of the water.

There are several churches within the Domain.

The Crypt was the first of the churches to be completed and is today among the smallest. The nave is small and a notable feature are the enormous pillars which support the weight of the Upper Basilica which was constructed on top of it.

The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, known as the Upper Basilica, was the second church to be completed and it was consecrated in 1876. It is an impressive, elaborate building in Gothic style and on one side seems to emerge directly from the rock of Massabielle (the sanctuary is directly above the Grotto).

The Rosary Basilica is the third church to be completed in 1899. It was consecrated in 1901 and has a capacity of 1,500 worshippers. Its style is influenced by Byzantine architecture. The nave is open and circular, surmounted by a dome.

The Basilica of St. Pius X, known as the Underground Basilica, is the largest and most controversial of the Domain's churches. It was completed in 1958 in anticipation of the enormous crowds expected in Lourdes for the centenary of the Apparitions. A modern, concrete building, it is almost entirely underground (part of the building lies beneath the Boulevard Père Rémi Sempé above). When full it can accommodate 25,000 worshippers. The Underground Basilica is stylistically very different from the previous two basilicas. The concrete of its construction has been left bare throughout, making it gloomy and uninviting inside.

 

There are other churches and chapels in the Domain - Church of St. Bernadette, Chapel of Reconciliation and St. Joseph's Chapel.  Other areas for prayers include the Crowned Statue and Rosary Square.

 

The Grotto of Massabielle

In contrast to the grandness of Rosary Square and the various basilicas, the grotto at Massabielle where St Bernadette's visions took place is very simple and stark. The recess of the grotto itself is undecorated, although a plain stone altar and lectern have been placed there so that Mass can be said. Above the main recess is the niche where the apparitions took place and the statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary now stands. A large stand of candles next to the altar is kept burning during the season.

The spring that Bernadette is said to have dug can be seen at the rear of the grotto, shielded by a glass cover. Pilgrims can process through the grotto and it is traditional to touch the rocks directly under the statue; indeed so many people have done this that the stones have become polished.

Thanks to Joseph & Kate who sent these two postcards during their visit to Lourdes (end May 2014)

The trams of Montpellier, France

Montpellier is a city in southern France. It is the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, as well as the Hérault department. Montpellier is the 8th largest city of France, and is also the fastest growing city in the country over the past 25 years. Located on the south coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea, it is the third-largest French city on the Mediterranean coast after Marseille and Nice.

There is a network of four tram lines in Montpellier. The trams are operated by the Transports de l'agglomération de Montpellier (TAM) authority.  The first line opened in July 2000 and the second line opened in December 2006. Lines 3 and 4 opened in April 2012 along with an extension of Line 1 and a diversion of Line 2.

Line 5 is scheduled for completion in 2017.  Line 1 crosses right through the heart of the Old Town; with more than 120,000 passengers per day it is the busiest tramway line in France.

The tramway of Montpellier is without doubt one of the most stylish public transport systems in the world. The design of the rolling stock is very extravagant: The vehicles for line 1 are blue and decorated with white swallows; those for line 2 are painted with colorful flowers, those for line 3 feature a maritime design and those for line 4 feature two different liveries in gold or black.

I received this wonderful card from Lorriane (13 March 2014) Direct Swap Postcrossing.