Pagoda Forest at Shaolin Temple - China

Here comes a card from a new chinese UNESCO site. Founded in the fifth century, the monastery is long famous for its association with Chinese martial arts and particularly with Shaolin Kung Fu, and can probably be considered one of the most famous Buddhist monasteries.

Shaolin Monastery and its famed Pagoda Forest were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2010 as part of the "Historic Monuments of Dengfeng."  in: wikipedia

The card was sent by Zihu.

The Pagoda Forest at Shaolin Temple stands at the foot of Shaoshi Mountain about half a kilometer west of Shaolin Temple in Henan Province. It is a concentration of tomb pagodas for eminent monks and abbots of the temple. A rough count shows more than 240 tomb pagodas of various sizes from the Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties (618-1911), making it the biggest pagoda forest in China.

Most of the Pagoda Forest is stone and brick structures, ranging from one to seven storeys, less than fifteen meters high -- much smaller than pagodas for Buddhist relics -- and all carry the exact year of their construction and many carvings and inscriptions. They are in a variety of styles, but are mainly multi-eaved and of pavilion-style. Their shapes are varied, including polygonal, cylindrical, vase, conical and monolithic, making the pagoda forest an exhibition of ancient pagodas, carvings and calligraphy of various dynasties. Besides the pagoda forest there are many invaluable tomb pagodas scattered around the Shaolin Temple, including the Faro Pagoda built in 689 in the Tang Dynasty, the Tongguang Pagoda constructed in 926 in the Five Dynasties, the Yugong Pagoda erected in 1324 in the Yuan Dynasty, and the Zhaogong Pagoda built in the Ming Dynasty, which are gems among ancient pagodas.

The Pagoda Forest is a rare treasure for later generations to study the history of Chinese ancient architecture, carving, calligraphy, art and religion. Besides, it is a scenic spot for tourists from home and abroad. - in: http://www.chinaculture.org/gb/en_travel/2003-09/24/content_36204.htm

TR-189141

An official from Turkey with old Istanbul engravings. 

© Copyright by KESKIN COLOR KARTPOSTALCILIK A. S. 

TR-189141, sent by Gözde.

I don't have much to say about this card and the sender didn't have much to say either, she only wrote the card's ID and "best wishes from Turkey"!! 

CZ-490616

I didn't post this card with the previous two czech official cards because this one is rather special, is my 900th received official card. The card is special and the city is also special, well, I hope I can still say this after my visit to this city. I believe I'll like it. Still 37 days to go. 

Foto: Libor Svácek

 CZ-490616, sent by Zuzana.

Prague - historical pearl of Europe - is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Textbook of architectural styles with its wealth of monuments, a city filled with music, romance and nostalgia is mainly a modern city full of life! Since 1992 the historical core of the city covering 866 hectares has been listed in the UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage. - in: http://www.praguewelcome.cz/en/visit/

CZ-490617

I must confess I'm not fond of older cards or repruduction of older pictures but this one is ok. 

 CZ-490617, sent by Radka.

Litoměřice is a city in the north part of the Czech Republic, approximately 64 km (40 mi) northwest of Prague.

A plethora of natural and cultural landmarks with a well-developed network of footpaths make Litoměřice a popular destination for visitors to this corner of Bohemia. Here, at the confluence of the Labe and Ohře rivers, in the picturesque region of the Czech Central Mountains, lies one of the oldest and most beautiful Czech towns, the royal town of Litoměřice, whose population nowadays is almost 26,000 people. As mute witness to the historic glory of Royal Litoměřice stand Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings, protected under an urban preservation order since the year 1978. - in: http://www.litomerice.cz/eng/

On this card is possible to see a partial view of the St. Stephen's cathedral and the bishop's residence. 

Ivan the Great Bell Tower, Moscow - Russia

I thought this beautiful building was one of the many churches in Moscow's Kremlin but it is a bell tower, the Ivan the Great Bell Tower. 

The card was sent by Tatiana "MZebra". 

On the eastern side of Cathedral Square stands the magnificent Ivan the Great Belltower, which, at a height of 81 metres, was the tallest building in all Russia for almost 400 years. It was the work of an Italian, Marco Bono, who was ordered by Ivan the Great to design a belltower for the Archangel, Assumption and Annunciation Cathedrals next to the 1329 Church of St. John Climacus-under-the Bells.

Between 1532 and 1543, architect Petrok Maliy built the four-storey Assumption Belfry, which stands next to the tower and houses the 64-ton Resurrection Bell, cast in the 19^th Century. In 1624, the tent-roofed Filaret Tower was added.

In 1812, Napoleon's soldiers tore down many of the buildings of the Kremlin, and attempted to blow up the bell tower. Thankfully they failed, although the belfry and the Filaret Tower were badly damaged. They were restored in 1819 by the architect D.I. Gilardi.

There are 21 bells in the tower and belfry, of which the Assumption Bell, located in the central arch of the belfry, is the largest at 70 tons. It was always the first bell to ring on church holidays, a signal that started all the other church bells in Moscow. In 1918 the last Easter service in the Kremlin took place, and the bells of Ivan the Great did not ring again until 1992.

Wide scale restoration work was carried out in the 1950s, and an exhibition hall was created on the ground floor, which is still used for various temporary exhibitions. - in: http://www.moscow.info/kremlin/churches/ivan-great-bell-tower.aspx

St. Isaac Cathedral, St. Petersburg - Russia

I love snow, I love churches, I love these cards! Aren't they trully beautiful? I even have more cards of St. Isaac Cathedral in St. Petersburg but these are my favorites. 

The 1st card is an official and the others were sent by Alena and Elena. 

RU-2758720, sent by Tanya.

"The dome of St. Isaac’s Cathedral dominates the skyline of St. Petersburg and its gilded cupola can be seen glistening from all over the city. You can climb up the 300 or so steps to the observation walkway at the base of the cathedral’s dome and enjoy the breathtaking views over the city. 

 The church itself is an architectural marvel. Built by the French-born architect Auguste Montferrand to be the main church of the Russian Empire, the cathedral was under construction for 40 years (1818-1858), and was decorated in the most elaborate way possible. When you enter the cathedral you pass through one of the porticos - note that the columns are made of single pieces of red granite and weight 80 tons (about 177,770 pounds) each.

Inside the church many of the icons were created using moaic techniques and the iconostasis (the icon wall that separates the altar from the rest of the church) is decorated with 8 malachite and 2 lapis lazuli columns. The cathedral, which can accommodate 14,000 worshipers, now serves as a museum and services are held only on significant ecclesiastical holidays." - in: http://www.saint-petersburg.com/virtual-tour/st-isaacs-cathedral.asp

FI-2134241, FI-2134724 & FI-2134474

Finnish official cards from Helsinki, Inkeroisten and Rauma. 

 Photo: Tommi Lappaleinen

FI-2134241, sent by Kaisa. 

The church on the card is the famous Uspenski Cathedral but the statue is not so famous. 

Havis Amanda is a nude female statue in Helsinki, Finland. It was sculpted by Ville Vallgren (1855-1940) in 1906 in Paris, but was not erected at its present location at the Market Square in Kaartinkaupunki until 1908.

Havis Amanda is one of Vallgren's Parisian Art Nouveau works. It is cast in bronze and the fountain it resides in is made of granite. She is a mermaid who stands on seaweed as she rises from the water, with four fish spouting water at her feet and surrounded by four sea lions. She is depicted leaning backwards as if to say goodbye to her element. Vallgren's intention was to symbolize the rebirth of Helsinki. The height of the statue is 194 centimetres and with the pedestal it stands 5 metres tall. According to Vallgren's letters the model for the statue was a then 19-year-old Parisian lady, Marcelle Delquini. - in: wikipedia

 Foto: Outi Heinonen

FI-2134724, sent by Tarja.

Inkeroisten Church was built in 1909-1910 in Art Nouveau style. It was designed by Birger Federley.

FI-2134474, sent by Katja.

The Old Town Hall building has been used by the museum since the beginning of the 20th century. It was built in 1776.

The Old Town Hall is mainly baroque-style, but the basic shape of the house, two storeys and a clock tower, was common already in medieval towns. In addition to Rauma, only Porvoo has an 18th century town hall in its original form.

The meeting hall of the town council, offices and archives were located upstairs, while the town jail and a shop were located downstairs.

At the moment The Old Town Hall displays objects related to the town history, shipping and lace making. Lace making demonstrations have also been a museum attraction for decades, although lace makers are not constantly present. - in: http://www.rauma.fi/museo/In_english/Old%20town%20hall.htm