Little Mermaid - Denmark

Located at Langelinje Pier, the Little Mermaid stutue is one of Copenhagen's most famous tourist attractions. 

This beautiful card was sent by Chris. 

Edition Cromática S. L. © Distribution Forlaget Svanen Aps

Unveiled on 23 August 1913, The Little Mermaid was a gift from Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen to the City of Copenhagen.

The sculpture is made of bronze and granite and was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale about a mermaid who gives up everything to be united with a young, handsome prince on land.

Every morning and evening she swims to the surface from the bottom of the sea and, perched on her rock in the water, she stares longingly towards the shore hoping to catch a glimpse of her beloved prince.

Carl Jacobsen fell in love with the character after watching a ballet performance based on the fairy tale at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen.

The brewer was so captivated by both the fairy tale and the ballet that he commissioned the sculptor Edvard Eriksen to create a sculpture of the mermaid.

The sculpture was inspired by ballerina Ellen Price, who in 1909 danced the lead role in the ballet The Little Mermaid at the Royal Theatre.

However, Ellen Price would not model in the nude for sculptor Edvard Eriksen. Thus Eriksen’s wife, Eline Eriksen, posed for the sculpture of The Little Mermaid.

The little mermaid has several times been the victim of vandalism. Twice she has lost her head, once the arm was sawn off, and several times she has had paint poured on her.

But every time she is rescued and restored, so she can stay in her place by the water and bid travellers welcome to Copenhagen harbour. - in: http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/the-little-mermaid-gdk586951

Van Nelle Factory - Netherlands

One of the places added to the UNESCO WHS list this year, was this factory in Rotterdam. The Van Nelle Factory is considered as one of the most important industrial heritage monuments in the Netherlands. 

This card was sent by Mike. 

The Van Nelle Factory is built between 1927 and 1930 and is an icon of post WW I modern architecture in the Netherlands. The ‘Nieuwe Bouwen’ as it is called in Dutch was, among others inspired by the architecture of Le Corbusier. Characteristic of this ‘Nieuwe Bouwen’ is the use of modern materials and construction materials that create transparent, spacious and clear spaces. The Van Nelle Factory is a good example with its transparent metal constructions and large glass windows that create, inside and outside the building, a feeling of brightness and spaciousness. This result is further strengthened by the fact that not the façades but the pillars in the building support the construction.

The factory was designed by the architects Brinkman & Van der Vlugt in cooperation with design engineer Ir. J.G. Wiebenga. The principal, the director of the factory Kees van der Leeuw, tried to create a pleasant working environment for his employees. That’s why there are no basements; one worked in a building filled with light, air and space. On top of that showers were installed and even a tennis court was built, all for the employees of Van Nelle to use.

The Van Nelle factory produced tobacco, coffee and tea until 1995 when the production was finished. Together with the new owner (since 1987) Sara Lee/ Douwe Egberts new ways to use the buildings were examined. In 1998 the Ontwerpfabriek bought the factory. They shaped the former factory into a dynamic premises with offices and rentable spaces for creative entrepreneurs. - in: http://www.artrotterdam.com/users/128/content/Home/EN-Van%20Nelle.html

Lavertezzo - Switzerland

Lavertezzo with its characteristic stone buildings is a typical picturesque village in the swiss canton of Ticino. I've already mentioned it before because of its famous 17th century stone double-arched bridge, Ponte dei Salti, but the village has more to offer to its visitors. 

© photoglob Zürich

On this card send by Óscar, besides the river, is still possible to see the 18th century Madonna degli Angeli Parish Church, the only baroque church in the valley.

Monte San Giorgio - Switzerland

Monte San Giorgio is another UNESCO WHS shared by Switzerland and Italy. It was inscribed on the UNESCO list in 2003. I already had another card from this site but I really wanted a another one. Óscar noticed that I was still looking for a card from there and sent me this one. 

Monte San Giorgio is a living legend of a historical masterpiece with fossils dating back to over 200 million years ago. Back then, it was surrounded by a lagoon and was partially separated from the open sea, due to which various marine life flourished in the region making it a rich source of fossils. These marine life and invertebrate can still be seen in the Fossil museum in Meride for visitors who want to relive the early moments of Middle Triassic period. 

©  Photographer Renato Bagattini * Distribution: photoglob.com

Depending whether you are in Serpiano, Meride or at the summit; Monte San Giorgio offers magnificent views of the lake Lugano and Lake Melano. Do not miss out the sunset panoramic view of the magical village Morcote that makes Monte San Giorgio a perfect viewing point for any visitor. This mountain is surrounded by two branches of the lake of Lugano and includes the towns of Meride, Tremona, Arzo, Besazio, Riva San Vitale e Brusino Arsizio in Switzerland and the towns of Porto Ceresio, Saltrio and Viaggù in Italy. Monte San Giorgio stands 1100m high in the south of Canton Ticino in Switzerland and the region of Lombardy in Italy.

Apart from being home to fossil museum, numerous vineyards can be approached when strolling along the southern slopes of the woody mountain. Sauntering through the charming town of Meride or pampering oneself in the grottos of the Mendrisiotto region, you can be assured that you will always find something to do on Monte San Giorgio. - in: http://www.ticino.ch/en/commons/details/Monte-San-Giorgio-a-sea-of-memories/73495.html

Rhaetian Railway - Switzerland

The Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes was added to the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 2008. I've got these cards, the 1st in 2009, sent by Doris and Óscar sent me the 2nd just a few days ago. 

 

"The RhB (Rhaetian Railway) has the largest network of all the private railways in Switzerland. The company operates most of the railways in the south-easternmost canton of Graubünden since the Federal Railways SBB-CFF-FFS extend only a few kilometres over the cantonal border to the capital at Chur.

RhB serves the major tourist centre of St Moritz and Davos, and one of the lines, the Berninabahn, crosses the Bernina Pass to the Italian border and on to Tirano, where there is a link to the Italian railways. - in: wikipedia

 © photoglob Zürich

Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes, brings together two historic railway lines that cross the Swiss Alps through two passes. It features an impressive set of structures including 42 tunnels and covered galleries and 144 viaducts and bridges. 

Schynige Platte - Switzerland

Damien is still on holidays and he went to Switzerland hoping to go to the mountains but the weather was too cloudy. Going to the mountain in this old small train must be really nice. 

The landscape that surrounds Schynige Platte is a strange combination of grit, rock and stones and beautiful green meadows that are known for its large number of alpine flowers. Lovers of alpine flowers can take a special route where over 500 species of flowers can be found on 8,000 m² (2 acres). - in: http://www.swisspasses.com/classicrail/packages/schynigeplatte/

Since over 120 years the small train has been ascending the up to 25% climb to the viewing terrace and mountain hotel. The Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau are the big attraction up here, together with the popular round ridge hike with views over the lake of Brienz and alpine gardens with 600 diverse plant species, which are certainly worth a visit. - in: http://www.myswitzerland.com/en/schynige-platte-sets-the-stage-for-the-eiger-moench-and-jungfrau.html

DE-3263962 & DE-3275953

Mail is getting slow again. The situation got a bit better in June but now the slowness is back. 

 Krapohl-Verlag

DE-3263962, sent by Corinna.

This is a card from Kevelaer, in North Rhine-Westphalia. It is one of the largest places of pilgrimage in north-west Europe and welcomes roughly one million visitors every year. The main attraction is and remains the Gnadenkapelle [Chapel of Grace] which has drawn pilgrims to the Lower Rhine Region from all over the world for more than 360 years. 

The Gnadenkapelle was built in 1654 to protect a sacred image and give it a worthy home. The small but richly decorated hexagonal building was designed after the model of the pilgrimage chapel in Scherpenheuvel in Belgium. The altar inside was consecrated in 1663. The chapel is a little gem of Dutch renaissance. 

DE-3275953, sent by Olaf.

This is the baroque interior of Dresden's Frauenkirche. Built in the 18th century, the church was destroyed in the bombing of Dresden during World War II. The remaining ruins were left as a war memorial, following decisions of local East german leaders. The church was rebuilt after the reunification of Germany. The reconstruction of its exterior was completed in 2004 and its interior in 2005. - in: wikipedia

The baroque interior with its five semi-circular galleries is of an impressive architectural unity and, at the same time, great beauty. It combines the concept of a centralised structure with that of a clear focus on the pulpit, baptismal font, altar and organ. - in: http://www.frauenkirche-dresden.de/kirchraum+M5d637b1e38d.html