FI-2993413

My 1st option for my summer holidays this month, was a trip to Finland + Estonia and visiting Porvoo was in my plans. I'm not going to Finland now but I'll try again next year and Porvoo will stay in my plans. 

© Maria W Boström 2010

FI-2993413, sent by Isabel

Founded nearly 800 years ago, Porvoo is the second oldest city in Finland and evidence of its long history can still be seen and felt as you walk its charming streets. For centuries, the city has served as both a home and a source of inspiration for many Finnish artists.

Located about 50 kilometres east from Helsinki, it is possible to travel from the capital to Porvoo by steamboat in the summer. Even though Porvoo is not exactly a coastal town, it is connected to the Gulf of Finland via the Porvoo River. The river flows through the city, passing Porvoo’s most well-known landmarks: its red shore houses. Originally, the shore houses were painted red in honour of the arrival of Gustav III, the king of Sweden.

Historically, Porvoo has been an important centre of trade and the shore houses were once used to store goods and produce, such as exotic delicacies from distant lands. - in: http://www.visitfinland.com/article/summertown-porvoo/

Bridges of Prague

It's always a pleasure to get cards from Czech Republic. These cards shows pretty much the same view, bridges crossing Vltava river in Prague. The 1st card is an official sent by children from a pre-school. The other one was brought from there by a friend.

foto © milan@kincl.cz

CZ-1186358, sent by stonozka.

Prague is known as the “city of hundred spires” for its many gold-tipped towers and medieval church spires that puncture the skyline, but you may as well call it the city of hundred bridges. 

According to Prague.net, there are over three hundred bridges in the city. Eighteen of them span across river Vltava, and hundreds of other lead over many smaller rivers and brooks, and valleys. - in: http://www.amusingplanet.com/2016/03/the-bridges-of-prague.html

Weissenhof Estate - Germany

 Last year UNESCO added 17 Le Corbusier projects to the World Heritage List, which are spread across seven countries. This card is from Germany and it was sent by Steffi. 

The Weissenhof Estate is a housing estate built for exhibition in Stuttgart in 1927. It was an international showcase of what later became known as the International style of modern architecture. Two of its buildings, designed by Le Corbusier, as well as several of his other works, were inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. - in: wikipedia

Photo: Christa Munkert

The two buildings Le Corbusier designed were intended as models for mass housing, and feature modular construction methods and mobile partitions to allow a flexible use of space.

Many of the buildings were unfortunately demolished during the second world war. However, Le Corbusier and Jeanneret's structure was purchased in 2002 by the City of Stuttgart to be preserved by the Wüstenrot Foundation.

Today, the building is home to a museum and visitors centre, known as the "Weissenhof Museum im Haus Le Corbusier". - in: https://www.dezeen.com/2016/07/30/le-corbusier-weissenhof-estate-stuttgart-modernist-housing-unesco-world-heritage-list/

DE-6243385

I've other cards from Bamberg but this is the 1st with the city's cathedral. 

The Bamberg Cathedral is a late Romanesque building with four imposing towers. It was founded in 1002 by the emperor Henry II, finished in 1012 and consecrated on May 6, 1012. It was later partially destroyed by fire in 1081. The new cathedral, built by St. Otto of Bamberg, was consecrated in 1111, and in the 13th century received its present late-Romanesque form. Due to its long construction process, several styles were used in different parts of the cathedral, particularly the Romanesque and Gothic ones. - in: https://www.spottinghistory.com/view/5694/bamberg-cathedral/

DE-6243385, sent by Friedhelm.

The cathedral houses many fascinating works of art, such as the famous statue of the Bamberg Rider, an altar by Veit Stoss, sculptures from the Hohenstaufen era (1230), the allegorical figures of Synagogue and Ecclesia, a visitation group and the laughing angel.

Pope Clement II (1005–47) is buried in the Bamberg Cathedral. He was the local bishop before he became Pope in 1046, but he died already in 1047 after having been pope for only twelve months. Bamberg Cathedral is the site of the only papal burial outside of Italy and France.

It is the burial place of Emperor Henry II and Cunigunde, the only imperial couple to be canonised. - in: https://www.bavaria.by/bamberg-cathedral-world-heritage-bavaria

Porta Nigra, Trier - Germany

Raquel really enjoys going to Postcrossing meeting, I mean, who doesn't?! In the last days of May she has been to 2 meetings, one here in Portugal and then one in Trier, Germany. She sent me a south view of Porta Nigra; back in 2008 Anna sent me a view of the north side. 

In 1986 Porta Nigra was designated as part of the Roman Monuments, Cathedral of St. Peter and Church of Our Lady in Trier UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

 The Porta Nigra is a magnificent 2nd-century Roman city gate in Trier. It was given its name (which means "black gate") in the Middle Ages because of its weathered color. 

Foto: Jeiter

The oldest defensive structure in Germany, the Porta Nigra was erected in about 180 AD when the Roman city was surrounded by walls. Trier was a Roman colony from the 1st century AD and then a great trading centre beginning in the second century. It became one of the imperial capitals under the Tetrarchy at the end of the 3rd century, and became known as the "second Rome."

The Porta Nigra is the only one of four Roman gates that still stands in Trier; the others were gradually pillaged for their stone and iron. The Porta Nigra survived because it was used as the humble residence of a hermit monk named Simeon for seven years (1028-35). After his death he was buried in the gate and the structure was transformed into the two-story Church of St. Simeon (lay church on the bottom, monastery church on top).

Napoleon destroyed the church in 1803, but the 12th-century Romanesque apse survived and the entire structure has been restored to its medieval appearance. - in: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/germany/trier-porta-nigra

List Ost Lighthouse - Germany

Sylt is also a german island in northern Germany. It belongs to the North Frisian Islands and is the largest island in North Frisia. 

List Ost lighthouse is a cast iron light built by the danish in 1858. 

 Foto: © Jenny Sturm - Fotolia

DE-6245670, sent by Kathrin. 

The lighthouse is still active. This is one of two lighthouses built by the Danish government on the sand spit at the north end of Sylt to guide ships through the channel between Sylt and the adjacent (and still Danish) island of Rømø.

Rannenberg & Friends - Hamburg

 The lighthouse is close to the beach and may be endangered in the future by beach erosion. - in: https://www.unc.edu/~rowlett/lighthouse/deu2b.htm
Card sent by Melanie.

Dornbusch Lighthouse - Germany

Both these cards were sent by, Norbert. The 1st was sent by him on behalf of Inês and the 2nd is an official that he sent me in 2011.

Atelier Schumann

Hiddensee is an island in the Baltic Sea, located west of Germany's largest island, Rügen, on the German coast.

Photo by Klaus Ender-Bergen auf Rügen 

DE-1164926, sent by Norbert

In the north of the island stands the symbol of the island, Dornbusch Lighthouse. It was built in 1888 and it's open to the public since 1994.