CZ-1040362

Another postcrossing year ended and it's time to do some maths. When it comes to official cards, this wasn't a good year for me, I've only sent 59 cards and received the same number. I'll definitely try to send more next year. 

This official from Czech Republic arrived last October. 

CZ-1040362, sent by Lída.

Hrádek u Nechanic is a 19th-century Gothic style Romantic château near the town of Hrádek in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic.

It was built between 1839 and 1857 as a representative and summer seat by Count František Arnošt of Harrach, one of the most important representatives of the Jilemnice dynasty. The young Austrian architect Karl Fischer led building operations and suggested decoration of the chateau's interior. The chateau was designed by the English architect Edward Buckton Lamb. It is referred to as “Little Hluboká” because it resembles to Hluboka Chateau in southern Bohemia. Most of the furniture was made by local artisans. The remainder of the interior was brought from Italy and Austria. Around the same time, L. Krüger converted part of the local forest into a park. In the left part of the park, a reserve and pheasantry were founded. - in: wikipedia

Wooden Churches in Southern Poland

There are 6 wooden churches in southern Poland inscribed on the UNESCO list. None of these three is on that list but they're also beautiful examples of this unique church style. 

These cards and all the other previous polish card were all sent by Andrzej. 

fot. © N. Szczerbicka

This formerly Greek Catholic church sits on a hill above the village of Hoszów in Bieszczady county in the south-eastern corner of Poland, not far from the Ukrainian border. Dedicated to Saint Nicholas, the current structure is of 20th century origin, though it includes some of the building materials used in an 18th century wooden church which originally stood on this site. 

Construction started in 1939, and it was not yet completed when World War Two began. The structure was used by the Germans as an ammunition storage site, and a major explosion occurred which seriously damaged the building. Construction continued after the war, and the church was completed in 1948.

However, by 1951 the building had been abandoned due to pressure from the new Communist Polish government. For the next decade it was used as a barn for keeping sheep in, but in 1971 it was given to the Roman Catholic church who began renovating it.

In 1977 the decaying wooden shingles on the roofs and the dome were replaced with tin roofs since they would last longer and protect the rest of the structure. 

Unfortunately the interior no longer contains any elements of the original Greek Catholic design and has been fully converted to a modern Roman Catholic style. - in: http://carpathianwoodenchurches.blogspot.pt/2011/11/hoszow-poland.html

fot. © N. Szczerbicka

The Greek Catholic Church of St. Nicolas in Rabe was built in 1858. Orthodox Church in Rabe was a filial Church of the parish in Hoszow. After the year 1951 the Church was abandoned and used as a warehouse. Since 1971 it served as Roman Catholic Church. - in: http://www.poland.travel/en-us/sacred-sites/greek-catholic-church-of-st-nicolas-in-rabe

fot. © N. Szczerbicka

This former Greek-Catholic wooden church is found on a small hill in the village of Równia. It features a three-domed architectural style which is very rare on Polish territory, being more typical of Boyko-style churches found further east in Ukraine.

The church is thought to have been built in the early 18th century, and it would later suffer extensive damage during World War Two. Following the war, the Lemko and Boyko inhabitants of the village were accused of aiding the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, which was fighting the Polish government.

They were expelled from the region along with most of the Lemko and Boyko population of south-eastern Poland, and were sent to become new settlers in the recently-claimed former German territories granted to Poland at the end of the war. Thus the village of Równia lost its Greek-Catholic population, and the church was converted for use as a Roman Catholic church when Catholic Poles were resettled in the village.

This is one of the most unique wooden churches in the region of Małopolska (Little Poland), though the interior is much less remarkable than the exterior. - in: http://carpathianwoodenchurches.blogspot.pt/2010/12/rownia-poland.html

Olkusz - Poland

Olkusz is a town in south Poland.  Olkusz is called 'Silver Town" because of the large amount of silver that was found and mined here. 

The postcard shows a tower and the remains of the city's wall. 

Foto: M. Habinka

In the 14th century Olkusz was surrounded by walls. The builder (or actually the funder of the walls as the money for their building came from the royal treasury) was Casimir the Great. The total length of the Olkusz wall was about 1100 metres (320 metres long and 225 metres wide) and it surrounded 7 hectares of the town. The thickness of both walls and towers was about 2 meters. The original fortifications had about 15 towers and 2 or even 3 gates.

The walls were demolished at the beginning of the 19th century. - in:  http://regio4trip.eu/en/region/biala-przemsza/tourism/slawkowska-gate-in-olkusz,126.html

Reszel Castle - Poland

From the south to the north of Poland with another nice castle. This time I'm sure I don't have any other cards of this castle.

Fot. A. Stachurski

Reszel Castle was built in between 1350-1401 by the Bishop of Warmia, Jan of Miśnia, however the castle's first occupiers where the Teutonic Knights. 

After the first partition of Poland in 1772 the castle was taken over by Prussian authorities, who converted it into prison in 1795. In 1806 and 1807 the town and castle were afflicted by great fires. The first one destroyed wooden buildings of the town, the town hall and part of the castle. The other completely devastated the castle. In 1822 the castle was handed over to the evangelical commune. After the repair works the castle lost its medieval characte – the cloisters were pulled down and the south wing was converted into an evangelical church (hence its present gable).

Since 2001, after yet another restoration, the castle houses a hotel with a restaurant, an art gallery and a museum. - in: http://www.zamek-reszel.com/castle-history/

Niedzica Castle - Poland

When I chose the 1st card from Andrzej albuns, I thought I still didn't have a card of that castle. I've just realized I was wrong. 5 years ago Monika sent me a nice card of the Dunajec Castle, also known as Niedzica Castle. 

This castle is one of the 13 medieval castles (some of which do not exist any longer), built in southern Lesser Poland, along the Dunajec river. 

Fot. © T. Ogórek

Niedzica Castle also known as Dunajec Castle, is located in the southernmost part of Poland in Niedzica (Nowy Targ County in Lesser Poland). It was erected between the years 1320 and 1326 by Kokos of Brezovica on the site of an ancient stronghold surrounded by earthen walls in the Pieniny mountains. 

The Niedzica Castle stands at an altitude of 566 m, on a hill 300 m upstream from the Dunajec River mouth, measured from the center of the dam on Lake Czorsztyn. The outline of Niedzica Castle can best be viewed from the ruins of Czorsztyn Castle on the other side of the lake. It is known as one of the most picturesque castles in the country and adorns the covers of many books. - in: wikipedia

Dublin Castle - Ireland

This may not look like a castle but it really is one, Dublin Castle, or better said, one of the courtyards of Dublin Castle. Anyway, the castle of the irish capital city, is not a traditional castle but rather a big fort built by the Anglo-Normans in the 13th century and that over the centuries has undergone some changes.

I've bought a copy of this card the last time I've been to Dublin but this one was sent by Cristina last October. 

© Liam Blake

The castle has served countless purposes since its construction: It was once a military fort, a prison, housed the national treasury, it was a court of law and for 700 years, until 1922, was the seat of the United Kingdom government's administration in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex.

The Bedford Tower, built in 1761, is the centerpiece of the Upper Courtyard. It was from there that the  Jewels of the Irish Crown were stolen in 1907. The jewels have never been recovered. 

Hadrian's Wall - England

Hadrian's Wall is one of Britain's major ancient tourist attractions and one of the country's UNESCO sites, it was designated as World Heritage Site in 1987. 

The 1st card was sent by Miguel last september and Stephanie sent the 2nd two years ago.

Hadrian's Wall was a defensive fortification in Roman Britain, begun in AD 122 during the rule of emperor Hadrian. In addition to its military role, gates through the wall served as customs posts.

A significant portion of the wall still exists and can be followed on foot along the Hadrian's Wall Path. 

 Reproduced from a stamp designed by Godfrey Design * Photo © Peter Marlow / Magnum Photos 

Hadrian's Wall was built, beginning in 122, to keep Roman Britain safe from hostile attacks from the Picts. It was the northernmost boundary of the Roman empire until early in the fifth century.

The wall, stretching from the North Sea to the Irish Sea (from the Tyne to the Solway), was 80 Roman miles (about 73 modern miles) long, 8-10 feet wide, and 15 feet high. In addition to the wall, the Romans built a system of small forts called milecastles (housing garrisons of up to 60 men) every Roman mile along its entire length, with towers every 1/3 mile. 

Sixteen larger forts holding from 500 to 1000 troops were built into the wall, with large gates on the north face. To the south of the wall the Romans dug a wide ditch, (vallum), with six foot high earth banks.

Today many of the stones have been carted away and recycled into other buildings, but the wall is still there for people to explore and walk along, although the latter is discouraged. - in: http://ancienthistory.about.com/cs/rome/a/aa060600a.htm