Snowy Crans-Montana - Switzerland

 I didn't post much last month and this month I won't post much either because I'll go on holidays next week.  Snowy Crans-Montana won't be my destination but visiting a place with this much of snow would be great. Not this time though. 

These cards were sent by Óscar. 

© Photo Edition Darbellay CH-Martigny

The Plaine Morte is a glacier located at an elevation of 2,750 m (9,020 ft), in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The ice field, which covers 10 square kilometres (3.9 sq mi), is located below the mountain of Wildstrubel in the Bernese Alps.

The area of Plaine Morte is easily accessible from Crans-Montana by cable car and the practice of cross-country skiing is possible throughout the year. The summit of the Pointe de la Plaine Morte offers impressive views of the Valais Alps. - in: wikipedia

© Photo Edition Darbellay CH-Martigny

Etang Grenon or Lac Grenon is a lake at Montana in the canton of Valais, Switzerland. Located at an elevation of 1497 m, its surface area is 3.5 ha. - in: wikipedia

The Seine & Notre-Dame Cathedral - France

When I get a card similar to other cards that I already have, I mean, cards from the same place but with a different view, I like to post them together. I think is kind of interresting to see how different a place can be in different seasons, from different view points or different hours of the day. 

All these cards were sent as officials and all show the Notre Dame Cathedral seen from the Seine. 

FR-487942, sent by Patricia.

The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris  is a Gothic cathedral on the eastern half of the Île de la Cité in the fourth arrondissement of Paris, France.

Notre Dame Cathedral is widely considered one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture in the world. It was restored and saved from destruction by Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, one of France's most famous architects. The name Notre Dame means "Our Lady" in French, and is frequently used in the names of Catholic church buildings in Francophone countries.

Photo: Nicholas Keil

FR-360277, sent by Chris.

The Notre Dame Cathedral was one of the first Gothic cathedrals, and its construction spanned the Gothic period. Its sculptures and stained glass show the heavy influence of naturalism, unlike that of earlier Romanesque architecture.

 Foto: Karel A. DE GENDRE

FR-288619, sent by Cyrille. 

The Notre Dame Cathedral Paris was among the first buildings in the world to use the flying buttress (arched exterior supports). The building was not originally designed to include the flying buttresses around the choir and nave. 

FR-51330, sent by Alexandra.

 After the construction began and the thinner walls (popularized in the Gothic style) grew ever higher, stress fractures began to occur as the walls pushed outward. In response, the cathedral's architects built supports around the outside walls, and later additions continued the pattern.

DE-3953090, sent by Lisa.

The cathedral suffered desecration during the radical phase of the French Revolution in the 1790s, when much of its religious imagery was damaged or destroyed. During the 19th century, an extensive restoration project was completed, returning the cathedral to its previous state. - in: http://www.notredamecathedralparis.com/

Montalegre - Portugal

Manú visited Montalegre, a city in northern Portugal, a few weeks ago and sent me these 4 cards from there. Just a few days later, Gracinha, also sent me one of these cards, the last one. 

Edição: Câmara Municipal de Montalegre

This 1st card is showing a "chega de bois", a bulls fight. This is an important part of the cattle breeders  activity in the portuguese region of Trás-os-Montes. Of ancestral origins, these bull fights were driven in the last decades as an incentive to the creation of the Portuguese breeds, especially the Mirandesa and Barrosã breeds.

Every year, during summer, is held in Montalegre the Barrosã's breed National Bull Fight Championship and the Mirandesa's breed National Bull Fight Championship in Vinhais. 

The idea of these fights is to approach two males, which will keep their heads against each other to determine the strongest. These fights rarely imply some kind of injury to any of the animals. 

Edição: Câmara Municipal de Montalegre

A lady shepherd with her herd in Larouco mountain. 

Edição: Câmara Municipal de Montalegre

Montalegre Castle is a portuguese National Monument situated at a place inhabited by Lusitanian people, Romans, Suevi and Visigoths in ancient times. It was built between 1279-1325. Under D. Afonso IV ruling, the still existing keep was erected. This castle is about 21m high and it has a cistern covered by carved stone. 

Edição: Câmara Municipal de Montalegre

This historical structure, popularly named as “Roman Fountain”, is situated in the picturesque small village of Arcos, in Montalegre municipality. 

This is a region with quite ancient human occupancy, rich in archaeological vestiges, many of them dated from the Roman occupancy of the territory. 

The region is also characterized by its astonishing natural landscapes, rich in fresh and pure mountain water. 

Many small villages and settlements in the region have taken advantage of this precious good. In most of the places one can find fountains that for centuries have supplied the populations with the freshest waters. 

That’s the case of this granite structure, that supplied Arcos population for centuries.  

Armação de Pêra - Portugal

Sofia sent me this card from Armação de Pêra, in Algarve, as a game prize. 

© Edição Vistal 

Armação de Pêra is a beautiful long expanse of sandy beach stretching for over 6 km and framed by the golden limestone cliffs that form the natural backdrop to so many of the beaches on this western side of the Algarve. Originally used by the local fishermen from the nearby village of Pêra for preparing their fishing tack (armação), Armação de Pêra has now become one of the most popular beaches in the Algarve and a modern resort, offering a host of amenities and entertainment. - in: http://www.portugal-live.com/portugal/algarve/armacao-de-pera.html

The fishing legacy is still however alive as along the beach you can see the local fisherman heading out to sea on their boats. 

PT-402182

I love to get official cards from my own country but that doesn't happen that often. João sent me a view of the lovely town of Marvão. I've been there almost 2 years ago but I need to visit the town again with more time. 

Marvão is on the UNESCO Tentative List. 

Nearby the border with Spain, situated between Castelo de Vide and Portalegre, on the highest point of the lovely São Mamede mountain, in Alentejo, is situated this charming village of Marvão. 

In a peacefull and relaxing environment, surrounded by 13th and 17th century defensive walls, Marvão rises high, with its lovely white houses, narrow and winding streets, showing that time is not as quick as it often seems. 

Photo © Rui Cunha 

PT-402182, sent by João.

Its strategic location, on the higher point of the São Mamede Mountain, with difficult accesses, that served as a natural protection, and near the border with Spain, made of Marvão an important Portuguese defensive point for many centuries, being the stage of several battles and political conflicts. 

Visiting Marvão, one has the certain of visiting history itself, along these historical streets, with gothic and manueline inheritances, and medieval testimonies of other times, marked in the typical granite constructions. 

The Castle and its imposing walls from the 13th century are unforgettable monuments of the village.
Located next to the Serra de São Mamede Natural Park, from the highest points in Marvão, like Torre de Menagem (Watchtower) or the Pousada de Santa Maria, one can enjoy of astonishing landscapes throughout the surrounding natural area. - in: http://www.getportugal.com/en/poi-marvao-14917

CA-506369 & CA-506372

Two beautiful snowy official cards from Canada. 

 © Published & Distributed by The Postcard Factory

CA-506369, sent by Masha.

Winter is generally December, January and February, though winter weather can start in November and last through late March, early April, especially in the eastern part of the country.

The height of winter is freezing cold in most places except for the BC coast, where winters are moderate with little snow. Nearby Whistler, on the other hand gets loads of snow and is a major ski destination through May.

Photo P.Quitternelle

CA-506372, sent by Michèle.

In the Rockies, winter is long. However, snow stays around only in the higher altitudes. Calgary, does not get much snow, but Banff and Canmore may get two feet in April. In addition, southern Alberta gets winter relief from warm Chinook winds.

Eastern Canada, including Toronto and Montreal, has a short, fierce winter, below zero temperatures most of the time, and -20°C (-4°F) not uncommon. At least one or two snowfalls of eight inches or more will likely hit in January and February. - in: http://gocanada.about.com/od/weatherincanada/ss/Canadas-Four-Seasons_2.htm#step-heading

SG̱ang Gwaay - Canada

Now is time for a new UNESCO site in my collection. Many thanks Brittany for this SG̱ang Gwaay card. This canadian site was classified as World Heritage Site in 1981. 

© 2014 Canada Post

Ninstints is the usual name in English for SG̱ang Gwaay Llanagaay ("Red Cod Island Village"), a village site of the Haida people in Haida Gwaii on the North Coast of British Columbia.

At the village of SGang Gwaay llnagaay (Nan Sdins) the remains of large cedar long houses, together with a number of carved mortuary and memorial poles, illustrate the art and way of life of the Haida. The site commemorates the living culture of the Haida, based on fishing and hunting, their relationship with the land and sea, and offers a visual key to their oral traditions. The village was occupied until shortly after 1880. What survives is unique in the world, a 19th century Haida village where the ruins of houses and memorial or mortuary poles illustrate the power and artistry of Haida society. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/157