One might think they are disappearing, or at least dwindling, but postcards continue to seduce people to send their travel memories to their loved ones. Illustrations of stained glass windows, photos of the cathedral, aerial view of the city, artists’ drawings, everyone can find a shoe that suits them to bring back or send a souvenir that suits them.
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This is the case of Paula, who comes out of the Conciergerie, a few meters from the cathedral, with three postcards in her bag. For this Portuguese woman on vacation in France and passing through Chartres, these little pieces of cardboard are the ideal gifts:
“Every time I travel, I send postcards to my family. That way I can show them where I’m going, and maybe that will convince them to come with me next time!”
Paula (empty)
An “iconic memory”
A little further, in front of the Galerie St-Fulbert, another souvenir shop, it is Anne, accompanied by her friend Corinne, who hesitates to buy a card. “I sometimes buy some for my mother.
She used to travel a lot but today she can no longer travel like before. Sending him a postcard from time to time is my way of helping him compensate for this lack. She hardly uses her phone, so writing her a few words on the back of these memories is a way of showing her that I think of her other than by calling her,” explains Anne, scanning the stalls.
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In the shop, jewellery, statuettes, posters, mugs, magnets, t-shirts with the effigy of the labyrinth of the cathedral, everything is done to make customers want to be tempted by a souvenir of their visit. But at the entrance remain the unbeatable postcards.
Behind the counter, Laura Bosseron collects customers who have come to spend a few euros. She has worked here for several years, and has noticed that the postcards are still popular: “We didn’t put any from January to March, because it’s a period when we receive fewer customers. We we still asked for it, people were disappointed,” recalls the saleswoman. She takes back :
“For the summer, we gave out a lot of cards, and we sell them every day, to French and foreign tourists alike. It’s a bit of an emblematic souvenir, and everyone can buy one. The less expensive ones that we offer are 50 cents, and the largest ones cost 3.50 €.”
Laura Bosseron (Salesperson)
But around the cathedral, not everyone is ready to buy a postcard. Hiking bag on his back and striped socks pulled up, Mathieu takes pictures of the building with his Nikon.
For him, “buying a postcard doesn’t even cross my mind”. The amateur photographer explains: “Whether it’s my friends or my family, I communicate with my loved ones exclusively with my phone, and I regularly send them photos. I also like the more elaborate image, but when it’s it’s about telling what I’m doing or what I’m going to visit, a photo on the WhatsApp group is more than enough!” Beside him, his friend Claire nuances:
“I can understand that some people still send them, but it’s true that it’s been years since I sent or received a card from people of my generation, and I’m 36 years old!”
Claire (empty)
She concludes: “I think it’s good to have a choice, and even if I don’t receive one, I would love someone to send me a card tomorrow.”
Corentin Renoult
#Souvenirs #Chartres #postcards #popular
