Topographic views of Thiers: Housing from the 15th century imaged from lantern slide

Views of Thiers distributed by the French company G. Massiot & Cie (actual photographer unknown). Distributed before 1912. Thiers is built upon a hillside along the Durolle river valley. The steep elevation splits the town into distinct high town and low town areas, with historic half-timbered houses notable in the old quarter of high town. There are still many rustic stone cottages and architecture from the 12th to 15th centuries. Saint-Gen\u00E8s church dates from the 12th century. The chief industry is knife-making.