DE-14411069

Some facts about Germany.

Germany shares borders with nine countries – France, Luxembourg, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland, Austria, Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Poland.

 

DE-14411069, sent by Katrin.

* One-third of Germany is still covered in forests and woodlands;
* Germany is the seventh largest European country, covering an area of 357,168 square kilometers;
* Berlin is nine times bigger than Paris;
* Germany has 20,000-25,000 castles;

* The Cologne Cathedral is the second largest religious building in Germany and took 632 years to build;
* The first printed book was printed in Germany, a Latin language Bible by Johann Gutenberg;
* Germans celebrate the start of school by giving their children sweet-filled cardboard cones known as “Schultüte,” containing sweets, toys, school supplies, etc;
* Germany is the birthplace of figures such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Albert Einstein;
* German is the fifth most taught language worldwide;
* German is an official language in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Belgium, Luxembourg, and  Liechtenstein;
* Many public German universities have high-quality education with low or no tuition fees, aside from administrative costs;
* About 1,300 breweries in Germany produce over 5,000 brands of beer;
* Oktoberfest is Germany’s most famous festival and the world’s largest beer festival;
* Germany is one of the top countries that consume the most beer;
* Germany has over 1,500 different kinds of sausage;
* In Bavaria, beer is called “liquid food” due to its nutrition and importance in the local culture. - in: https://www.studying-in-germany.org

Herrnhut - Germany

 This year Germany added 2 sites to the UNESCO WHS list. I already had a card of the Schwerin Castle and, thanks to Marcel, I got this card of Herrnhut, now part of a transnational site, which also includes Moravian settlements in the US, Denmark and Northern Ireland.

The Moravian Church, also known as Unitas Fratrum, is one of the earliest Protestant denominations and was founded in Herrnhut in 1722 by Protestant refugees from Bohemia, Moravia, Silesia and Scandinavia. It is now known worldwide for its missionary work, simple way of life and “Daily Watchword”, an annual publication containing a selection of short bible verses for each day of the year.

 

Fotos: Berthold, Dresden

Herrnhut, a small town in Upper Lusatia, approx. 62 miles east of Dresden, is not only the place where the Moravian Church was founded, but also an outstanding example of this religious community’s way of life. Today’s visitors can still trace Herrnhut’s unique and strictly symmetrical layout, with spacious squares and communal facilities. With the Moravian Church’s missionary activities, more than 30 settlements worldwide have been built according to the principles established in the Moravian mother community in Saxony.
Herrnhut is also known for the iconic “Herrnhut Star”, or “Moravian Star” in English, which is recognised worldwide as a symbol of this religious community. It originated over 180 years ago in Saxony and today, this unique 25-point star is considered the origin of all Christmas stars and has become a popular festive decoration around the world. - in: https://visitsaxony.com

Speyer Cathedral - Germany

The Speyer Cathedral was  added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981 as "a major monument of Romanesque art in the German Empire". 

 

DE-14619031, sent by Irmi.

 The imperial cathedral in Speyer, officially known as the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Stephen, is the town's most prominent landmark. Laid out in the form of a Latin cross, it is one of Germany's largest and most important Romanesque buildings, and was intended to be no less than the largest church in the western world when building work began in 1030.

Photo: Bavaria Luftbild Verlags GmbH

DE-2002357, sent by Uwe.

Speyer Cathedral in the Rhineland-Palatinate region has long since ceased to be the largest church in the western world. However, it is still the world's largest surviving Romanesque church. Construction began under Salian Emperor Konrad II, and the church was consecrated in 1061 under his grandson Heinrich IV. 

  Verlag Johannes Oefner

DE-2173601, sent by Sabine.

Its huge triple-naved vaulted basilica is the central element of a design that is thought to have greatly influenced Romanesque architecture in the 11th and 12th century. The mighty but eminently well-proportioned main building, consisting of the nave and transept with four towers in a symmetrical design, inspired many other important churches. A central attraction that strongly reflects the spirit of the time is the fully preserved crypt, which is the largest Romanesque columned hall in Europe. 

As the burial site for Salian, Hohenstaufen and Habsburg rulers and their wives, the crypt – and the cathedral itself – represent the ultimate symbol of medieval imperial power. The huge 'cathedral bowl' outside the main door is certainly worth a visit. With a capacity of 1,560 litres, it had to be filled with wine by every new bishop to keep the people happy. Perhaps these are the origins of the Cathedral Wine Fair in spring at which Palatinate vineyards present their wines against the stunning backdrop of the cathedral. - in: https://www.germany.travel

Penedo da Saudade Lighthouse - Portugal

 It's been 3 months since I received this postcard sent by Oscar. In July, he had been to São Pedro de Moel and traveled around exploring the region. I've also been to the region but never visited São Pedro de Moel nor the lighthouse.

 

This lighthouse, also known as Farol do Penedo da Saudade, is located 800 m north of S. Pedro de Moel and at an altitude of 55 m. Its 32 meter high tower has a spiral staircase inside with 136 stone steps. 

It went into operation on February 15, 1912.

PT-827227

 It happened again, I received another official postcard from Portugal, the 2nd this year. I already had this postcard but it was blank.  

When I visited Lagos a few years ago, I saw some of these street art works but now there are many more to see. Lagos City Hall even has a map to make it easier to find the works and plan a route.

 

Foto: A. Alves * Art & Concept: G. A. Wittich

PT-827227, sent by Anna.

Lagos is an open-air gallery where prominent artists from around the world have brought life and color to hidden places. The drawings are on the streets, on billboards, on facades and large walls, often giving abandoned buildings a new and thought-provoking image.  

All of these works are part of ARTURb, a unique project in the Algarve that involves some of the most important names in urban art.

Levada do Risco - Portugal

 Miguel visited Madeira last month and managed to send me a postcard that I didn't have yet. The postcard doesn't identify this waterfall but I believe, I'm almost sure, and Google images too, that it is the Levada do Risco waterfall.

 

Sharing the initial part of the trail with Levada das 25 Fontes (PR 6), Levada do Risco reaches different but no less impressive points.

The trail starts on regional road ER 105, in Rabaçal, where you will be welcomed by a green-coloured landscape. The density of Nature reigns along the 1.5 km trail.

 

Photo: Marcial Fernandes

Levada do Risco is a trail of easy difficulty and with an estimated duration of 2 hours. It is at an altitude of about 1000 metres, thus offering access to unobstructed views over Madeira's natural heritage. 

But the greatest reward comes at the end of the trail, when hikers get to the Risco viewpoint. 

There, you will be able to contemplate an impressive waterfall which falls vertically, forming a white line in contrast with the dark-coloured rock. 

Levada do Risco is, therefore, an idyllic and very photogenic setting, ideal to regain strength and prepare the way back (+ 1.5 km), or, if you still have time and energy, to go to Levada das 25 Fontes (PR 6). in: https://visitmadeira.com

Winner of the Month * July '24

In July I've received these cards as a prize for being the winner of the month.
 

Ice cream is probably my favorite dessert, there's always ice cream in my freezer, no matter the season of the year. My favorite flavors are hazelnut and walnut. 

This card was sent by Celeste.

 

Last June I've been to Spain and visited Plasencia, which I thought it was Maritere's hometown. Then in July I got this card and realized I was wrong. Her hometown is Palencia not Plasencia. The names are quite similar, I'm sure I'm not the 1st to get confused with the cities names. 

San Miguel Church is an example in its typology of religious constructions that best confirms the transition between the Romanesque and the incipient Gothic. Its most outstanding element is the rough openwork tower located on the main façade, with a height (reaches 70 meters) and appearance that invite the visitor to imagine a defensive or military use. Raised on the remains of an earlier construction, it was built in the early eleventh century. Legend has it that in this place Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar and his wife Doña Jimena got married. The temple of San Miguel is also the scene every January 1 of one of the traditions that best define the cultural heritage of the city. This is the so-called "Baptism of the Child", an interesting and special celebration with status of Festival of National Tourist Interest. - in: https://turismo.aytopalencia.es

I've said a few times before that getting cards from UNESCO tentative sites is almost as good as getting cards from places that already are classified. I've just found out that the Rambla of Montevideo is on the tentative list. I don't know if Atalí knew about this but it makes the card even more interresting.

The Rambla of Montevideo is the coastal avenue that goes along the coastline of the Rio de la Plata in Montevideo, Uruguay. At a length of over 22.2 uninterrupted kilometres (13.7 mi), the promenade runs along the Río de la Plata and continues down the entire coast of Montevideo. - in: wikipedia

The building with a tower, right in the middle of the image, is the Zoological Museum, inaugurated in 1956.

This card is from Norway but it was sent from Portugal by Isabel. 

In winter, much of Norway transforms into a snow-clad paradise. The average temperature is -6.8 degrees Celsius, but the local conditions may vary quite a lot. Around Oslo, snowfall is common and the average winter temperatures are just below zero.
The lower inland areas of Finnmark, Troms, Trøndelag, and Eastern Norway often have very cold winters with lots of snow.
The inland areas of Northern Norway have an Arctic climate with snow and cold temperatures. However, the climate is usually much milder in coastal areas, thanks to the Gulf Stream. Strong winds occur frequently.
The coastal areas of Fjord Norway and Southern Norway also enjoy a milder climate, with temperatures around 0 degrees Celsius at sea level. However, much of the region is snowy and cold, which makes for good skiing conditions, especially in the mountains. - in: https://www.visitnorway.com