Bulguksa Temple - South Korea

Bulguksa Temple is also a UNESCO site in South Korea. 

The lovely snowy card is an official from Japan and the 2nd card was sent by Claus 10 years ago! 

 Designed by Green & Blue

JP-268799, sent by Junko.

Bulguksa is a Buddhist temple in the North Gyeongsang province of South Korea. Although much-restored, it is an important example of Silla architecture and is home to no less than seven Korean national treasures.

Given its important status today, it is interesting that Bulguksa was never intended to be a major temple. It was originally founded in 535 by King Pob-hung, for the use of his queen to pray for the welfare of the kingdom. 

The present temple was begun in 751 by Prime Minister Kim Daeseong.

Bulguksa was burned to the ground during the 1592 Hideyoshi Toyotomi invasion. It was partially reconstructed during the Japanese occupation of Korea (1910-1945) and fully restored under President Park Chung-hee (1961-1979).

Bulguksa Temple was added to the World Heritage List by UNESCO in 1995, together with the nearby Seokguram Grotto. - in: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/south-korea/bulguksa.htm

Andong - South Korea

Andong is a city in South Korea and the capital of North Gyeongsang Province. Andong is known as a centre of culture and folk traditions. The Hahoe Folk Village is perhaps the most notable folk village in South Korea. This village was listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage site  in 2010.

This was a site still missing in my collection. 

Andong Hahoe Village has preserved the housing architecture and the village structure of the Joseon dynasty. Moreover, the village was not artificially created; there are people who actually live there. 

Because the village is surrounded by mountains and water, it had never been invaded. This is the reason why these houses still remain in their original structures. - in: https://www.asia-planet.net/korea/andong-si.htm

The card was sent by Marina from Italy. 

Turku castle - Finland

It's official, I'll travel to Finland in June and I'll visit Turku. I'm really looking forward to finally travel to Finland and meet a few friends there. 

Turku is the third largest city in Finland but was once the capital of the country, from 1809 to 1812, and was the largest city in terms of population until the late 1840s.

One of the city's attractions is its castle, one of the largest medieval buildings in the country.

I guess I won't need to buy postcards of the castle. These were sent by Anna-Maria, Laura and Marita.

Photo: Pentti Harala

Turku Castle is a more than 700 year old historical monument. It has stood guard over the river Aura estuary since the 1280’s. Its granite stone walls hold within them the history of Finland, Sweden and the other Nordic countries.

 The history of Turku Castle begins in the 1280's. During the centuries the fortification gradually changed into a grand greystone palace.

The Postcrossing Logo is a Registered Trade Mark * Illustration © Ilkka Lylmäkorpi

In 1556, King Gustav Vasa named his son Johan Duke of Finland. The era of Johan marked a new phase in the construction of the Castle. The renaissance halls were built during this period, which also marked the beginning of the reneissance era in Finland.

 Foto: Markku Roisko

FI-1422214, enviado pela Laura.

In the 17th century, the Governor General of Finland Per Brahe held court in the Bailey. Gradually the administrative centre moved out of the by then old castle, and gave way to a prison. It also served as a storehouse and as barracks.

 In the 1941 bombings the castle was left in ruins. After the end of the war restaurations began. Nowadays the periods of construction can be seen in labyrinthine passages, walled up doors and windows and in mysterious staircases. - in: https://www.turku.fi/en/turku-castle/turku-castle-nutshell

DE-8091609

A german official from a city I've never heard before, Heilbronn. 

© Schöning Verlag * Foto: Ingo Wannmacher

DE-8091609, sent by Rico.

Heilbronn is a city in northern Baden-Württemberg. 

st. Killian's Church is a Gothic hall church constructed from Heilbronner sand stone, whose origin dates back to the 11th century. Its western Tower, constructed by Hans Schweiner, is one of the first major Renaissance buildings to be built north of the Alps. - in: wikipedia

ES-560414

The Greetings From cards have never really caught my attention, that's why I only have 5 of them. Is not that I don't like them, I like (don't worry Iria), I just never thought about starting to collect them. Right now I've Portugal, Spain, Poland, Germany and Finland cards. 

Designed by Ewa Slocinska

ES-560414, sent by Iria.

Facts about Spain:

- It has an area of 505 944 km² and a population of 46 423 064;

- Penélope Cruz, Salvador Dali, Pedro Almodóvar and Rafael Nadal Parera are some of the most famous spaniards;

- Spanish is the 2nd most spoken language in the world with 329 million native speakers worldwide;

- Tomatoes, potatoes, avocados, tobacco and cacao were all brought to Europe by the spaniards from their american colonies;

- The name "Spain" comes from the word "Ispania", which means "the land of rabbits";

- Mount Teide in Tenerife, is the highest mountain in Spain and Europe's largest volcano;

- Flamenco is a mix of a few cultures, namely Andalusian; Arabic; Sephardic; Islamic and Gipsy;

- There are over 6200 Postcrossing members in Spain. 

iSimangaliso Wetland Park - South Africa

Justyna put a lot of effort on this south african card. Even though the card was sent from Canada, she managed to use a Nelson Mandela stamp and wild african animal stickers and washi tape to decorate it. It was worth to wait for this new UNESCO card. 

Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park was how this park was known till 2007. Since then it's name is iSimangaliso Wetland Park and that's how you can find it on the WHS list.  

iSimangaliso Wetland Park is situated on the east coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, about 275 kilometres north of Durban. It is South Africa's third-largest protected area, spanning 280 km of coastline, from the Mozambican border in the north to Mapelane south of the Lake St. Lucia estuary, and made up of around 3,280 km2 of natural ecosystems.

The park was proclaimed a world heritage site because of the rich biodiversity, unique ecosystems and natural beauty occurring in a relatively small area. The reason for the huge diversity in fauna and flora is the great variety of different ecosystems on the park, ranging from coral reefs and sandy beaches to subtropical dune forests, savannas, and wetlands. Animals occurring on the park include elephant, African leopard, black and southern white rhino, buffalo, and in the ocean, whales, dolphins, and marine turtles including the leatherback and loggerhead turtle.

The park is also home to 1,200 Nile crocodiles and 800 hippopotami.

In December 2013, after 44 years of absence, African lions were reintroduced to iSimangaliso.[6]

There are large outcroppings of underwater reefs which are home to brightly coloured fish and corals. Some of the most spectacular coral diversity in the world is located in Sodwana Bay. The reefs are inhabited by colour-changing octopuses and squid ready to ambush unsuspecting prey. Occasionally gigantic whale sharks can be seen gliding through the water, mouth agape to scoop up tiny plankton.

Twenty-four species of bivalve molluscs are recorded in St. Lucia Lake, which constitutes a considerable portion of the park. - in: wikipedia

Mount Fuji - Japan

If you want a perfect postcard like picture of Japan's highest mountain, this is the right time of the year to do it. The cherry blossoms around the Fuji Five Lakes typically peak around mid April. 

© PIN UP CO., LTD. AOYAMA, TOKYO

JP-1238277, sent by Nana.

Mount Fuji is a dormant volcano, which most recently erupted in 1708. It stands on the border between Yamanashi and Shizuoka Prefectures and can be seen from Tokyo and Yokohama on clear days.

The easiest way to view Mount Fuji is from the train on a trip along the Tokaido Line between Tokyo and Osaka. If you take the shinkansen from Tokyo in direction of Nagoyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the best view of Mount Fuji can be enjoyed from around Shin-Fuji Station on the right hand side of the train, about 40 to 45 minutes after leaving Tokyo.

Note however, that clouds and poor visibility often block the view of Mount Fuji, and you have to consider yourself lucky if you get a clear view of the mountain. Visibility tends to be better during the colder seasons of the year than in summer, and in the early morning and late evening hours.

JP-168167, sent by Masayo.

If you want to enjoy Mount Fuji at a more leisurely pace and from a nice natural surrounding, you should head to the Fuji Five Lake (Fujigoko) region at the northern foot of the mountain, or to Hakone, a nearby hot spring resort. Mount Fuji is officially open for climbing during July and August via several routes." - in: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2172.html

Church of the Ascension, Kolomenskoye - Russia

The Church of the Ascension in Kolomenskoye is one of the most significant architectural monuments of the XVI century in Russia. It is a part of the large architectural museum complex "Kolomenskoye".

The church was inscribed on the UNESCO WHS list in 1994. 

RU-7223219, sent by Maria.

The Church of the Ascension was built in 1532 on the imperial estate of Kolomenskoye, near Moscow, to celebrate the birth of the prince who was to become Tsar Ivan IV ('the Terrible'). 

One of the earliest examples of a traditional wooden tent-roofed church on a stone and brick substructure, it had a great influence on the development of Russian ecclesiastical architecture. - in: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/634

St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral - Bulgaria

I didn't receive any postcards from Bulgaria since 2015!! After 4 years,  I finally received another card from there thanks to Ana who visited the country a few weeks ago. I don't really know why but I also would like to visit the country, it has been on my must visit for some years now. 

Ana sent the postcard of the aerial view of the Alexandre Nevsky Cathedral. The other two were sent in 2011 by Christina and Lilia.

Photo: BulFoto Agency

The gold-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral was built in the early 20th century in memory of the 200,000 Russian, Ukrainian, Belorussian and Bulgarian soldiers, who died in the Russo-Turkish War, 1877–1878. It is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world. 

The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Built in Neo-Byzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, as well as one of Sofia’s symbols and primary tourist attractions.

The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia occupies an area of 3,170 square metres (34,100 sq ft) and can hold 10,000 people inside. It is the second biggest cathedral located on the Balkan Peninsula after the Cathedral of Saint Sava in Belgrade.

The Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a cross-domed basilica featuring an emphasized central dome. The cathedral’s gold-plated dome is 45 m high (148 ft),
with the bell tower reaching 53 metres (174 ft).The temple has 12 bells with total weight of 23 tons, the heaviest weighing 12 tons and the lightest 10 kilograms (22 lb). The interior is decorated with Italian marble in various colours, Brazilian onyx, alabaster, and other luxurious materials. The central dome has the Lord’s Prayer inscribed around it, with thin gold letters. - in: http://www.sofia-guide.com/attraction/alexander-nevsky-cathedral/

Spiš Castle - Slovakia

Another well preserved medieval town to add to a list of places to visit in Slovakia, is Spišská Kapitula. This ecclesiastical town is located on the outskirts of Spišské Podhradie and overlooks Spiš Castle. The town consists of St. Martin's Cathedral (dedicated to St. Martin of Tours); a former monastery; and a single street, all of mediaeval construction and enclosed by a wall.

The cathedral was built between the 13th and 15th centuries in the Romanesque and Gothic styles. It is one of the largest and most interesting Romanesque monuments in Slovakia. It contains many mediaeval carved altars and is the resting place of many lords of Spiš Castle. - in: wikipedia

Photo by Alexander Jirousek

SK-21635, sent by Natasa.

Classified as a National Cultural Monument, Spiš Castle with its area of more than four ha, and partially in ruins, is one of the largest castle compounds in Central Europe.

Construction of the medieval castle on a travertine hill dates back to the beginning of the 12th century.

In the second half of the 15th century the reconstruction of the castle fell upon its new owner Štefan Zápoľský whose intention was to remake it into a stately aristocratic residence. He had made a palace, a knight hall and chapel of St Elisabeth in the castle. His son Ján, later King of Hungary was born at the Castle.

The last building works at the Upper Castle were made under the orders of the Thurzos' and the Csákys'.

In 1780 the castle compound was destroyed by fire and the proud Spiš Castle gradually fell into ruins. The total decay of the castle was prevented only through the intervention of conservationists who in 1970 got down to the difficult job of preserving the walls and palaces threatened by the instability of its rocky base.

At present there are the collections of the Spišské múzeum placed in the castle documenting its history, along with medieval arms and feudal jurisdiction. - in: http://www.slovakia.travel/entitaview.aspx?l=2&idp=2105

Bardejov - Slovakia

Collecting UNESCO cards has made my must visit list much longer than I ever thought. A medieval town like Bradejov really fits the category of places I like to visit. Maybe one day I get to explore some of Slovakia's UNESCO sites. 

The town of Bardejov, located in north-eastern Slovakia, is a small but exceptionally complete and well-preserved example of a fortified medieval town, which typifies the urbanisation in this region. 

Bardejov is dominated by the monumental church of St. Aegidius, mentioned for the first time in 1247. A three nave basilica with multiple chapels was completed by the 15th century. It hosts eleven precious Gothic winged altars with panel paintings. - in: wikipedia

Foto © Alexander Jirousek

SK-176246, sent by Branislav.

The unspoiled town cobbled square is a picture postcard view of town life in late medieval and early renaissance Europe. The dominant theme is rows of affluent merchants’ houses of German influence, each with its own variations of pastel colouring, roofing and other details. - in: https://www.slovakia.com/bardejov/

Jægersborg Dyrehave - Denmark

One of the most frustrating things for an UNESCO card collector is probably to visit a missing site and can't find any cards of it. That was what happened to visit when I visited Jægersborg Dyrehave, a park north of Copenhagen. This park was one of the three forests included on the UNESCO WHS list inscribed as Par force hunting landscape in North Zealand in 2015. 

I've never seen cards from this place before and they seem quite hard to get. I was hoping to find some cards there but came back empty handed :( I actually saw a few oldish black and white cards in a... closed store. 

Doris had the same problem, couldn't find cards, so she had a few cards printed with some pictures she took there. This one shows a burial mound in Jægersborg Hegn.

Photo by Doris

Dyrehaven, which literally means "the deer park", is a natural resort filled with lush forests, small lakes and wide, open landscapes. As the name might reveal, Dyrehaven is renowned for the more than 2000 free range deer that inhabit the park, and you'll surely come across a herd of grazing deer on your way through. 

Besides from the beautiful landscape, Dyrehaven also has a significant history that dates back hundreds of years. In 2015, Dyrehaven was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the par force landscape that was once used for hunting by the Danish royalty. - in: https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/deer-park-gdk414367

Bronze Age burial mounds are scattered throughout the large Dyrehaven park. In the forests near the amusement park, by the palace and dotted about individually and in groups. The landscape surrounding the Eremitage Palace is also interesting because is clearly resembles the open landscape of the Bronze Age, with scattered trees, copses and the clearly visible burial mounds. Farther north, in Jægersborg Hegn, the burial mounds have been embraced by the forest. - in: http://www.kulturarv.dk/1001fortaellinger/en_GB/jaegersborg-dyrehave-and-jaegersborg-park

DE-8080489

There are 44 UNESCO sites in Germany, too many to fit all on a single card, so Paper Sisters came up with 3 different cards. This is card nº I and I definetely would like to get the other 2. 

www.papersisters.de

DE-8080489, sent by Melissa.
The sites on the map card are:
- Hanseatic City of Lübeck - 1987;
- Bremen Town Hall and Roland on the Marketplace - 2004;
- Berlin Modernism Housing Estates - 2008;
- St. Mary's Cathedral and St. Michael's Church at Hildesheim - 1985;
- Cologne Cathedral - 1996;
- Wartburg Castle - 1999;
- Bauhaus and its Sites in Weimar, Dessau and Bernau - 1996;
- Muskauer Park - 2004;
- Abbey and Altenmünster of Lorsch - 1991;
- Völklingen Ironworks - 1994;
- Maulbronn Monastery - 1993;
- Old Town of Regensburg with Stadtamhof - 2006;
- Prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps - 2011.

BE-628643 & BE-628286

These cards are both officials from Belgium but the one with the chapel is a spanish card. 

Edit. Lander - Eupen

BE-628643, sent by Gilbert. 

The 17th century Bempt Castle is located in the village Moresnet. 

The castle consists of a rectangular main building between two wings built in right angles.  The castle is surrounded by moats and accessible via a stone bridge.

BE-628286, sent by Laurence.

A chapel in La Carihuela, a traditional fishing quarter in Torremolinos, a municipality in Andalusia, southern Spain. 

Levada das 25 Fontes - Madeira

Two weeks ago I was on Madeira island. It was my 2nd visit to the island and certainly not the last one. My 1st visit was in 2010 and since then I really wanted to return and do a levada walk. Levadas are small irrigation canals created from the 15th century onwards and aimed to carry and distribute water from the rainier areas on the north side of the south side of the island. Nowadays, they still carry water and are also hiking trails and one of the most propular activities on the island. 

There are more than 200 levadas and I decided to do the Levada of the 25 Fontes (fountains). I ended up doing this and also Levada do Risco, whose rails start on the regional road (E.R.110). In fact it was not possible to complete the Levada das 25 Fontes due to the heavy rain .... we did not reach the 25 Fontes lagoon. Still, despite the heavy rain, it was a beautiful and great experience and one day I'll go back to see the 25 fountains.

With this walk I visited another Portuguese UNESCO site, the Laurissilva Forest.

Dima * Fotografia: Ángel Hernández

The Levada das 25 Fontes is one of the most famous on the entire island of Madeira. The origin of the name is due to the fact that 25 springs can be counted on the spot.

The trail of about 11 kilometers, lasts 3 hours, and it reveals amazing landscapes with an immense variety of local species of flora and fauna. 

The 25 Fontes levada, which is also known as Levada Nova do Rabaçal, began to be built in 1835. On 16 September 1855 water ran through the levada for the first time, running from North to South and making it possible to make use of lots of land which had so far lain fallow in the Calheta municipal area.

This area includes the Madeiran laurisilva forest which has classified as a Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO, since December 1999 and is part of the European network of important community sites - Natura 2000. - in: http://www.visitmadeira.pt/en-gb/explore/detalhe/pr6--pr6-1-levada-das-25-fontes-levada-do-risco