Bourtange - Netherlands

Some time ago I read somewhere that Bourtange is one of the most beautiful villages in the world. I mentioned this to my dutch friend Tessa and a few days ago I've got this card from there, sent by her parents! 

Fort Bourtange is such a star fort located in the village of Bourtange, Groningen, Netherlands. It was built in 1593 under the orders of William the I of Orange, to control the only road between Germany and the city of Groningen, which was controlled by the Spaniards during the time of the Eighty Years' War.

During the Eighty Years' War, the Spaniards had control over Groningen and the road leading from there to Germany. William, the leader of the Netherlands, saw it necessary to break off communications between Groningen and Germany. He decided that it would be optimal to build a fortification on the Bourtange passage, which was the main road leading to Germany. The fort was completed in 1593 in the design of a star with a network of canals and lakes which were used as moats. At its heart was a central square with streets that led directly to various bastions within the protective moat. At the very year of its completion, Spanish forces tried to besiege it but the attack ended in failure.

Fort Bourtange faced another battle in 1672 against a marauding German army. After capturing 28 cities and towns in the northern Netherlands, they demanded that the Fort be surrendered. Legend states that the Germans offered the fort's governor, Captain Protts, 20,000 guilders to surrender. Captain Prott refused saying he had an equal number of bullets for his foe. The Germans attacked but the fort’s trusted defense once again successfully repelled the attack.

Eventually, in 1851 the fort town of Bourtange was converted into a village. Over 100 years later in 1960, the local government decided to restore the old Fort to its 1740-1750 appearance and made into a historical museum. - in: http://www.amusingplanet.com/2013/06/star-shaped-fort-bourtange-in.html

Móleson - Switzerland

Postcrossing 10th anniversary was a few days ago and to celebrate this special day Vanesa came up with the idea of a tag in the portuguese community. The goal of this tag was to send all the cards on July the 14th. I've sent a card to Sofia and i've got this one from Switzerland sent by Óscar. 

Edition G. Fleury

This card matches so many of my wishes, a castle, a mountain, a landscape, snow. It's a great card, isn't it.

The castle on the card is Gruyères castle and the mountain is Móleson.

The Moléson is 2,002 metres high a mountain of the Swiss Prealps, overlooking the region of Gruyères in the canton of Fribourg. It lies at the northern end of the chain between Lake Geneva and the valley of the Sarine. - in: wikipedia

Thanks to the funicular and the cable car, reach the top of the Moléson and enjoy an incredible lanscape on western Switzerland from Lake Geneva to the peaks of the Jungfrau, Eiger and Mönch.

Maulbronn Monastery - Germany

All these cards show the Maulbronn Monastery, one of Europe’s most complete and best preserved Medieval monastery complexes.  It is situated on the outskirts of Maulbronn, Baden-Württemberg, Germany and is separated from the town by fortifications. In 1993 the monastery was made a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The 1st card is an official, the 2nd was sent by Tanja "grisu" in 2008 and the 3rd was sent by Nicole "sternchen84", after tagging her on the "You Choose - 3 UNESCO WHS in an Envelope tag" in 2009. 

Verlag Klostertor

DE-4272782, sent by Kurt.

The monastery combines a multitude of architectural styles, from Romanesque to late Gothic, in one place – creating a unique atmosphere. 

Construction of the former Cistercian abbey, cradled in the rolling hills of the Stromberg region, commenced in 1147. It was here that Gothic design was first implemented in the German-speaking world. In 1993, the monastery was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Maulbronn’s many buildings are enclosed by Medieval walls and towers. Architectural highlights include the Romanesque monastery church, the Gothic cloister, and the fountain house.

The monastery church’s entrance hall, the Paradies, takes its name from the custom of painting church vestibules’ walls with scenes from the Fall of Man. In Maulbronn, the last painting was completed in 1522. However, little of this work of art remains visible. The Paradies, the cloister’s south wing, and the monks’ refectory were constructed in the late Romanesque, transitional early Gothic style. These structures played a vital role in spreading the Gothic architectural style throughout German-speaking Europe.

The Cistercians have traditionally worked the land. This is why their cultural and architectural influences extended well beyond the walls of the monastery. The surrounding countryside was formerly dotted with their farms, called granges. The Maulbronn monastery complex has been preserved remarkably well, and is an impressive representation of the region’s history and the Cistercians’ way of life.

After the Reformation, Duke Christoph of Württemberg, converted the complex into a Protestant boarding school. Its pupils included prominent scientists and writers including Johannes Kepler, Friedrich Hölderlin and Hermann Hesse. The school still exists, but is called today Evangelical theological seminary. 

After being named a UNESCO World Heritage site, the monastery complex has become a world-famous landmark, attracting tourists from around the globe. It also serves as a concert venue, giving visitors the opportunity to appreciate the buildings’ out-of-the-ordinary acoustics. - in: http://www.kloster-maulbronn.de/en/home/

DE-4135198

A beautiful german official card showing the Hanstein Castle, located in Bornhagen, a municipality in the district of Eichsfeld in Thuringia. 

www.harenberg-kalender.de

DE-413198, sent by Frank.

Hanstein Castle was mentioned for the first time in official documents in the 9th century in Corvey Monastery, and is considered one of the largest castle ruins in central Germany. In the Middle Ages, the castle served as a prison. During the Thirty Years' War, it was partly destroyed by Swedish troops, after which it was no longer inhabited on a regular basis.

Since 1990, Hanstein Castle has belonged to the municipal council of Bornhagen. English photographer Mark Robert Davey helped the castle in 2006 by raising money with his black and white photograph of the Hanstein. In 2008, Hanstein Castle celebrated 700 years. Various festivals take place every year. - in: wikipedia

ES-349458

The previous card was french and it was sent by a german girl living in Italy, this one is italian and it was sent by an ukrainian girl studying in Spain. 

I've a few cards from Venice but I believe this is my 1st one with the Bridge of Sighs. 

Foto: archivio Mazzega Art & Design s. r. l.

ES-349458, sent by Daria. 

The Sighs Bridge was designed by Antonio Contino, in Italian Renaissance in style. Its construction started in 1600 and it took about two years to be complete. The 11 meter (36ft) wide bridge is made of white limestone and two windows with stone bars. 

 It passes over the Rio di Palazzo and connects the New Prison (Prigioni Nuove) to the interrogation rooms in the Doge's Palace. 

The view from the Bridge of Sighs was the last view of Venice that convicts saw before their imprisonment. The bridge name, given by Lord Byron as a translation from the Italian "Ponte dei sospiri" in the 19th century, comes from the suggestion that prisoners would sigh at their final view of beautiful Venice through the window before being taken down to their cells. In reality, the days of inquisitions and summary executions were over by the time the bridge was built and the cells under the palace roof were occupied mostly by small-time criminals. In addition, little could be seen from inside the Bridge due to the stone grills covering the windows.

A local legend says that lovers will be granted eternal love and bliss if they kiss on a gondola at sunset under the Bridge of Sighs as the bells of St Mark's Campanile toll. - in: wikipedia

Nice - France

Last April my pal Katja from Italy went on holidays to the French Riviera. She knows how much I love cards and sent me this one from Nice. 

Nice is the fifth most populous city in France.  It is located on the south east coast of France on the Mediterranean Sea, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

Surrounded by the serene blue waters of the Baie des Anges and sheltered by the foothills of the Maritime Alps, Nice has a mild climate year round. With its sunny weather and stunning seaside scenery, it's easy to understand why it became a popular vacation destination since the second half of the 18th century, when an increasing number of  English aristocratic families choose the city as a winter resort.

 For decades now, the picturesque Nicean surroundings have attracted not only those in search of relaxation, but also those seeking inspiration. The clear air and soft light has been of particular appeal to some of Western culture's most outstanding painters, such as Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, Niki de Saint Phalle and Arman.

Touques - France

Today I went hiking but legs and feet are a bit sore but my hands are fine, so I can post a few cards today. I've more french cards to show. This one from Touques, was also sent by Paulo. 

Photo: Alain Baudry

Touques is a town in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France. The church of the card is St. Peter Church, from the 11th century, located at the St. Peter Square.