Before and after pictures of the French and Italian Riviera show it was just as posh 100 years ago as it is today

Julie ZeveloffJun 6, 2023, 02:53 IST

Library of Congress

Your Instagram might be flooded with snapshots of people carousing on European beaches.

These images from the Library of Congress show that the vacation hotspot has changed in the last 100 years.

It's that time of year — "'How did this person afford this trip to Europe' month on Instagram," according to comedian Jared Freid.

But crowds flocking to the South of France and Italian Riviera in June are nothing new, as these stunning images from the Library of Congress show.

Called photochroms, the colored images are ink-based photolithographs. They were often sold as souvenirs for travelers, and show landscapes, everyday scenes, and architecture, according to the Library of Congress.

Keep scrolling for postcard-style images that show the Cannes Promenade de la Croisette, Monaco's Casino de Monte-Carlo, and other idyllic scenes from around the period between 1890 and 1900.

Let's start our tour in Monaco, the tiny country carved out of the French Riviera.

Library of Congress

The Monte Carlo casino opened its doors in 1865.

Library of Congress

The casino still functions today, and retains its old-world opulence.

Shutterstock.com

This image, from between 1890 and 1900, shows the "new" gambling room at the casino.

Library of Congress

The interiors are still decadent.

REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

A view of Monaco's seasides, hills, and famous port, from around 1900.

Library of Congress

And the same view today, with a few more high rises and superyachts.

Wirestock Creators/Shutterstock

The seaside town of Menton is just north of Monaco, in France.

Library of Congress

This photochrom shows a view from Menton's harbor around 1900.

Library of Congress

Today, Menton is known for its annual Lemon Festival.

leoks/Shutterstock

Menton's promenade and beach.

Library of Congress

La Croisette in Cannes is one of the most iconic promenades in the south of France.

Library of Congress

While it's more built up today, the 2-kilometer walkway between beach and town hasn't changed much.

4kclips/Shutterstock

Neither has the clocktower on Cannes' Mont Chevalier.

Library of Congress

Here it is today.

Kiev Victor/Shutterstock

100+ years ago, the Cannes harbor was filled with sailing ships.

Library of Congress

It's no different today, although the ships have changed.

RossHelen/Shutterstock

The old town, Cannes.

Library of Congress

This photochrom shows tree-lined Avenue de la Gare in Nice.

Library of Congress

Now the second-largest city in southern France, Nice has long been a vacation destination. Pictured here is the long-gone Hotel des Anglais.

Library of Congress

Today, its waterfront is packed with hotels and beach clubs.

FloridaStock/Shutterstock

Another bygone building in Nice; the winter garden.

Library of Congress

This image shows washerwomen ("blanchisseusses") working in Nice.

Library of Congress

Here is the bustling Cours Saleya market at the turn of the century.

Library of Congress

And today, where it's a popular destination for antiquing.

Yosh Dimen/Shutterstock

Let's hop over to the Italian side of the Riviera. Sanremo has long been a tourist hotspot.

Library of Congress

Today's aerial view shows a built-out beach but the same geographic features.

Ewa Studio/Shutterstock

Sanremo's Royal Hotel, which opened in 1872, still welcomes visitors today.

Library of Congress

The Sanremo harbor then...

Library of Congress

... and now.

Dmytro Surkov

Women walk along the waterfront promenade in Sanremo.

Library of Congress

One final view of Sanremo from the turn of the century.

Library of Congress

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Before and after pictures of the French and Italian Riviera show it was just as posh 100 years ago as it is today

Let's start our tour in Monaco, the tiny country carved out of the French Riviera.

The Monte Carlo casino opened its doors in 1865.

The casino still functions today, and retains its old-world opulence.

This image, from between 1890 and 1900, shows the "new" gambling room at the casino.

The interiors are still decadent.

A view of Monaco's seasides, hills, and famous port, from around 1900.

And the same view today, with a few more high rises and superyachts.

The seaside town of Menton is just north of Monaco, in France.

This photochrom shows a view from Menton's harbor around 1900.

Today, Menton is known for its annual Lemon Festival.

Menton's promenade and beach.

La Croisette in Cannes is one of the most iconic promenades in the south of France.

While it's more built up today, the 2-kilometer walkway between beach and town hasn't changed much.

Neither has the clocktower on Cannes' Mont Chevalier.

Here it is today.

100+ years ago, the Cannes harbor was filled with sailing ships.

It's no different today, although the ships have changed.

The old town, Cannes.

This photochrom shows tree-lined Avenue de la Gare in Nice.

Now the second-largest city in southern France, Nice has long been a vacation destination. Pictured here is the long-gone Hotel des Anglais.

Today, its waterfront is packed with hotels and beach clubs.

Another bygone building in Nice; the winter garden.

This image shows washerwomen ("blanchisseusses") working in Nice.

Here is the bustling Cours Saleya market at the turn of the century.

And today, where it's a popular destination for antiquing.

Let's hop over to the Italian side of the Riviera. Sanremo has long been a tourist hotspot.

Today's aerial view shows a built-out beach but the same geographic features.

Sanremo's Royal Hotel, which opened in 1872, still welcomes visitors today.

The Sanremo harbor then...

... and now.

Women walk along the waterfront promenade in Sanremo.

One final view of Sanremo from the turn of the century.