1910 Old Castle and Wolf's Passes Gourdon France Vintage Postcard

About This Vintage Postcard

This early 20th-century view captures the dramatic "Vieux Château" (Old Castle) of Gourdon, a medieval fortress perched on a cliff at an altitude of 2,505 feet in the Alpes-Maritimes region of France. Known as the "Eagle's Nest," Gourdon offers a spectacular defensive position overlooking the Gorges du Loup (Wolf's Passes). The castle was originally a Saracen fortress before being reconstructed in the 13th century and later renovated during the Renaissance. The scene highlights the rugged Provencal landscape and the castle's role as a major destination for early excursions along the Ligne du Sud railway line.

Details

Era: Divided Back (1910-1914)
City: Gourdon
State or Region: Alpes-Maritimes (Provence)
Country: France
Topic: Medieval Castles, French Riviera Hinterland, Alpine Landscapes, Railway Tourism
Condition: Uncirculated
Postage: Unposted; no postmark or stamp
Address Side: divided back
Orientation: Horizontal (Landscape)
Artist / Photographer: Jean Giletta
Publisher: Etablissement de Photographie Giletta, Nice
Printer: Giletta
Print Type: Collotype

Additional Information

The production date is narrowed to 1910-1914 based on the publisher's history and the presence of the "R. C. Nice 290" registration number on the back. The card was produced by the famous firm of Jean Giletta, the most celebrated photographer of the French Riviera during the Golden Age of postcards. His studio in Nice meticulously documented the coastal and mountain villages of the region. The bilingual caption on the front, including "Wolf's Passes," caters to the growing numbers of English-speaking tourists visiting the Cote d'Azur prior to the outbreak of World War I. The uncirculated condition preserves the fine architectural detail of the castle's round towers and the winding mountain path.

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