SK-300148

The Wooden Churches of the Slovak part of Carpathian Mountain were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2008. This site consist of two Roman Catholic, three Protestant and three Greek Orthodox churches built between the 16th and 18th centuries. 

The Roman Catholic Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Hervatov is the oldest and best-preserved wooden church in Slovakia.

 

SK-300148, sent by Dodo.

Wooden church of St. Francis of Assisi has been in the heart of the village since the 15th century. The charming sacred building is made of red spruce and was built under the influence of Gothic style.
Every visitor who enters the church is first captivated by the rich paintings with figural and plant motifs. The center of the church is the main altar depicting the Virgin Mary, St. Catherine of Alexandria and St. Barbara. The most valuable artistic and historical monuments include the figural motifs of Adam and Eve in Paradise, Fight of St. George with the dragon and the Parable of the wise and foolish virgins. - in: https://www.kamnavylet.sk

PL-1912724

From the coast of northern Poland to Lower Silesia, in the southwestern of the country, to visit Czocha Castle.

 

Photo by Mike Mareen

PL-1912724, sent by Karolina.

The castle was designed as a fortress in the 13th century. After centuries of political turbulence, followed by a fire which destroyed the castle in the 18th century, the construction was restored to its former glory, owing to ample funding. Thus, it became one of the most interesting landmarks of Lower Silesia. Unfortunately, aft er the Second World War, almost all the furnishings fell victims to looters. Nowadays, the impressive monumental stronghold is home to an elegant hotel and its historic interiors can be visited like any other museum. - in: https://www.poland.travel

Zuraw, the crane - Gdansk

Poland’s largest port flourished during Medieval times as a merchant city trading Baltic amber.

Gdańsk is a unique city. Its history is inextricably linked with the sea, port and Hanseatic tradition. For its residents, the coexistence of the city and the port means, first of all, jobs, but also the improvement of road traffic due to the modernisation of the city-port connections. Gdańsk is an attractive destination, with a multitude of interesting buildings, impressive historic monuments and intriguing old streets. Its architecture is a mix of many styles: Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Rococo and Baroque. - in:https://www.portgdansk.pl

Photo by E. Meksiak

PL-661916, sent by Ania & Janek.
This is a view of Gdańsk's Old Town from the Motława river with the medieval port crane, called Żuraw. 

The silhouette of the great waterfront Crane of Gdansk is a well known symbol of the city. The first wooden crane at the foot of Szeroka Street dates from at least 1367. This structure was destroyed by fire in the 15th century. The replacement brick crane of today was erected in 1444. The brick western facade was not completed until 1483. 

 

Photo by Dariusz Krakowiak

The Crane was the largest water gate in the city by far and it still is. The huge crane structure is flanked by two fortified rounded towers. The ground floor of the crane had cannon emplacements. Firing embrasures mark the upper floors.

 The lifting mechanism of the crane was made of two pairs of treadwheels on one shaft. Four workers powered each treadwheel. The men walked inside the wheel like human hamsters. This system provided enough muscle power to lift two tons of load to a height of almost 120 feet. The crane was in ever dwindling use until 1944.

The crane gate was again damaged by fire in 1945. It was rebuilt by 1965 and it has been donated to the Polish Maritime Museum. Inside the crane building today are permanent collections, especially one of ordinary life in the port from the 16th to the 18th centuries. - in: https://www.gpsmycity.com

Gdansk - Poland

A few days ago I made a list of 10 places I would like to visit and Gdansk is one of those places. I have several postcards from there, each one more beautiful than the next, and they all showed me how beautiful the city is. Some say that Gdansk it is not only one of the most beautiful cities in Poland, but also one of the most beautiful in Europe. It might be true.

 

Fot. Patryk Kosmider

PL-1912723, sent by Izabela.

Ulica Długa (Long Street) is among the oldest avenues in the city. Guarded by the Golden Gate, it extends in a gentle curve in an area of old bourgeois houses. The colorful houses are known for their Rococo Gothic doors, terraces and porticoes.

The Town Hall is at the east end. 

This is a lovely card from Gdansk with the city's old Town Tall and the Neptune's Fountain. The card was sent by Ewelina "ewejka".

The Main Town Hall in Gdansk (the main headquarters of the Gdańsk History Museum) is a Gothic-Renaissance building, located at the corner of Długa Street and Długi Targ, dominating the panorama of the Royal Route – the most representative route of the listed part of the city.   

The Town Hall spire, with a gilded statue of King Sigismund II Augustus of Poland on its pinnacle (installed in 1561), dominates Long Market skyline.

Neptune's Fountain, in the center of the Long Market has grown to be one of Gdansk's most recognizable symbols. The bronze statue of the Roman god of the sea was first erected in 1549, before being aptly made into a fountain in 1633. Like the city he represents, Neptune has had a storied history, himself - dismantled and hidden during World War II, old Neptune didn't come out of hiding until 1954 when he was restored to his rightful place in the heart of the city, reminding us of Gdansk's relationship to the sea. - in: http://www.gdansk-life.com/culture/culture_details/407-Neptune

Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church - Germany

The Gedächtniskirche (Memorial Church) is the most famous landmark in the western city centre and is one of Berlin’s most important churches – but at the same time much more than just that. It is composed of the ruins of the church that was destroyed in the war, as well a modern church building. It is a memorial for peace and reconciliation, commemorates Berliners’ determination to rebuild after the war, and is a place of contemplation.

Foto: G. Schneider

DE-7005531, sent by Michael.

In honour of Wilhelm I, the first German Kaiser, his grandson Wilhelm II planned a magnificent church, which was built by Franz Schwechten between 1891 and 1895 in the Neo-Romantic style. With five spires, the bombastic design reflected the tastes of the time and that of the Kaiser.

The church bells were the second biggest in Germany after Cologne, and when the church was inaugurated, the five bells rang so loudly that the wolves in the zoo started howling. During the Second World War, the chimes stopped and the five bells were melted down for munitions. 

 

DE-12881049, sent by Judith.

Air raids in 1943 damaged the church so badly that the top of the main spire broke off and the roof collapsed. At the end of the war, the Allies were unwilling to rebuild it, since it had been a symbol of excessive national pride. The ruin stood as a constant reminder to Berliners of the horrors of war. In 1956, plans to completely demolish the church and build a new one led to angry public protests. As a compromise, the architect Egon Eiermann integrated the ruin in his design for the new church.

The present church was completed between 1959 and 1961. The design consists of concrete honeycomb elements with stained glass inlays. Inside the octagonal nave, the stained glass produces a rich blue light and an atmosphere of meditative calm. The memorial hall in the old spire is now a memorial against war and destruction and a symbol of reconciliation. It also contains a crucifix made of nails from the burnt roof timbers of Coventry Cathedral, which was almost completely destroyed by bombs in 1940. The crosses of nails from Coventry, which are also in Dresden, Hiroshima and Volgograd, are a symbol of reconciliation. - in: https://www.visitberlin.de/en/kaiser-wilhelm-memorial-church

DE-12881046 & DE-12881047

On April 1st my address was given to quite a few postcrossers and as a result I've been getting a lot of cards these last days, some of them with consecutive ID numebers. That's the case of these two from Germany.

 

© Schöning Verlag

DE-12881046, sent by Susanne.

One of the prettiest scenes in Mainz is this small rectangular square, Kirschgarten, enclosed by tall half-timbered houses.
The square itself dates back to before 1329, while its houses are from the 16th to the 18th centuries. One, Zum Aschaffenberg is the oldest preserved half-timbered house in Mainz, built around 1500.
At the centre, bordered by a restaurant terrace, is the Kirchgartenbrunnen, a fountain that has only been here since 1932 and is made with red sandstone repurposed from broken ornamental structures on the Theodor Heuss Bridge. - in: https://www.thecrazytourist.com

DE-12881047, sent by Eduard.

Heinsberg is a town in North Rhine-Westphalia,  situated near the border with the Netherlands. 

The city has just a few ancient structures. Most of the city was destroyed in 1944 during World War II. The main sights are St. Gangolf church, the castle ruins, old district court and the building assembly.

FR-1606864

The 1st time I heard about Blaye was last year when I was googling about day trips from Bordeaux. Blaye was one of the suggestions and it caught my attention because the citatel is a UNESCO site. However I decided to visit St. Emilion instead.

 

Editions Marcou

FR-1606864, sent by Gwen & Rémi.

Designed in the 17th century by the famous military architect Vauban as a true walled city to protect Bordeaux from sea invasions, the imposing Blaye Citadel stands proudly on a rocky promontory majestically overlooking the Gironde estuary. A listed Historic Monument, this place is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Major Vauban Sites! The ramparts, fortified gates, barracks, prison and gunpowder magazine are evidence of the defensive system that visitors can see on a tour. A trip to see the Blaye fortifications is also a chance to admire magnificent views of the largest estuary in Western Europe! - in: https://www.france-voyage.com

Vitoria-Gasteiz - Spain

Parabadminton takes Heidi to various places and last February she participated in a tournament in Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the Basque Country, Spain.

 

 Founded at the end of the 12th century, Vitoria-Gasteiz reveals a medieval quarter where you will stumble across the most charming little corners, gardens and tree-lined boulevards, which make the capital of Alava a remarkable green space that does not disturb the careful urban layout, where medieval streets harmoniously intermingle with Renaissance palaces and Neoclassical churches.

 

The heart of the city is the Plaza de la Virgen Blanca, presided over by the monument that celebrates the battle of Vitoria.
On Herrería street you will find the Escoriaza-Esquibel palace, with its lovely plateresque courtyard.
The cathedral of Santa María, also known as the Old Cathedral, is a magnificent Gothic temple which was begun in the 13th century and continued into the 14th. It was later remodelled as the city grew. In 1496, the church became a collegiate church, until finally, in 1861, it achieved the rank of cathedral. - in: https://www.spain.info

Plaza de España is one of the most striking squares in Vitoria. The square has had many names over the centuries, including Plaza Nueva, Plaza de la Constitution and Plaza de la República. Only in 1936 did it gain its current title. Most people come here to visit the Town Hall, which dominates the square with its vast covered arcades.