1904 Jacquemart Tower Avignon France Vintage Postcard
About This Vintage Postcard
This striking monochrome postcard captures the Tour Jacquemart, the historic clock tower of the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) in Avignon, France. The tower is a remnant of a 14th-century Gothic belfry that originally belonged to the Abbey of Saint-Martial before being integrated into the municipal buildings.
It is famously named for its Jacquemart, a pair of mechanical life-sized figures who strike the large bell to mark the hours. The upper portion of the tower features ornate Gothic stonework and a skeletal spire, while the lower section retains its massive, medieval defensive character. Situated in the heart of the city near the Place de l'Horloge, the tower remains a symbol of Avignon's civic pride and its rich history as a former papal capital.
Details
Era: Divided Back (1904–1907)
City: Avignon
State or Region: Vaucluse, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Country: France
Topic: Jacquemart Tower, Avignon City Hall, Gothic Architecture, Automaton Clocks, French Provincial Life
Condition: Uncirculated
Postage: None
Address Side: divided back
Orientation: Vertical (Portrait)
Artist / Photographer: Unknown
Publisher: Edition Martel
Printer: Unknown
Print Type: Collotype
Additional Information
The manufacturing date for this card is narrowed to 1904–1907. This is indicated by the transitional "divided back" layout used by the publisher, Edition Martel, immediately following the 1904 authorization of the format in France. The reverse contains a handwritten English notation identifying the site as "Hotel of the town tower of Jagmart," likely penned by a British or American traveler during the early 20th-century "Grand Tour." The Jacquemart figures seen at the top were restored several times, with the current pair dating to the mid-19th century renovation by architect Léon Feuchère. This card provides a detailed view of the tower's clock face and defensive machicolations before the significant urban pedestrianization of the surrounding square later in the 20th century.
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