Kernavė Archaeological Site - Lithuania

Kernavė Archaeological Site in Lithuania is an UNESCO site since 2004 and I was there in 2015. It was a wonderful place to spend my last morning in Lithuania. I also went to the museum, looking for cards but they didn't have any. Fortunately I already had sent by Johnson. In the beginning of this year, I've received another one, actually, it was the 1st official of 2017.

Photo by Vaidas Jurgelis, 2015

The Kernavė Archaeological site, about 35 km north-west of Vilnius in eastern Lithuania, represents an exceptional testimony to some 10 millennia of human settlements in this region. Situated in the valley of the River Neris, the site is a complex ensemble of archaeological properties, encompassing the town of Kernavė, forts, some unfortified settlements, burial sites and other archaeological, historical and cultural monuments from the late Palaeolithic Period to the Middle Ages.

The site of 194,4 ha has preserved the traces of ancient land-use, as well as remains of five impressive hill forts, part of an exceptionally large defence system. Kernavė was an important feudal town in the Middle Ages. The town was destroyed by the Teutonic Order in the late 14th century, however the site remained in use until modern times. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1137

Roskilde Cathedral - Denmark

Besides Copenhagen, I also want to visit other places nearby. Roskilde is not far from Copenhagen but there are two other UNESCO places in the area that I'd like to visit.
The 1st of these cards was also sent by Margarida and the other one by Genek.

Built in the 12th and 13th centuries, this was Scandinavia's first Gothic cathedral to be built of brick and it encouraged the spread of this style throughout northern Europe. It has been the mausoleum of the Danish royal family since the 15th century. 

Porches and side chapels were added up to the end of the 19th century. Thus it provides a clear overview of the development of European religious architecture. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/695

Grundtvig's Church, Copenhagen - Denmark

Is just a coincidence that I'm posting these cards on the same day my friend and I booked our flights to Copenhagen in June. I've only started to consider Denmark as an option for part of my holidays in June, a few weeks ago but Copenhagen has been on my must visit list and I can't wait to go. 

The 1st card was sent by Paola almost 10 years ago and Margarida sent the other three. 

Grundtvigs Church was erected in commemoration of the great Danish priest, poet, and reformer N.F.S. Grundtvig (1783 - 1882). 

Foto & produktion: Gronlunds Forlag

This monumental church is referred to in modern terms as a gothic cathedral. Master builder and architect Peder Vilhelm Jensen Klint (1853 - 1930) died before the church was finished.

Foto & produktion: Gronlunds Forlag

 The task was entrusted to his son architect and designer Kaare Klint (1888-1954), who completed the building of the church in 1940. Kaare Klint has also designed the chairs for the Grundtvigs Church - a chair made of beech wood with wickerwork seat - a Danish furniture design classic. 

Foto & produktion: Gronlunds Forlag

Despite its massive size, the church seems to exude an atmosphere of calm contentment. Perhaps it is the appeal of the regular yellow brickwork forming the sole decoration of the church. - in: http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/grundtvigs-church-gdk410661

NL-3747411

Maastricht is a city in the southeast of the Netherlands. It's location excluded it from my plans when I visited Netherlands but I may consider it for a future visit. With its 1677 national heritage sites, which is the second highest number in a Dutch town, after Amsterdam, this city is definitely worth a visit. 

Photo: Frans Lemmens

NL-3747411, sent by Fons.

Vrijthof, the largest and best-known square in Maastricht, with many well-known pubs, restaurants and also these structures on the card. 

Basilica of Saint Servatius, a predominantly Romanesque church with important medieval sculptures. The tomb of Saint Servatius in the crypt is a favoured place of pilgrimage;

Sint-Janskerk, a Gothic church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, the city's main Protestant church since 1632, adjacent to the Basilica of Saint Servatius, with a distinctive red, limestone tower;

Hoofdwacht ("Main Watch"), a 17th-century military guard house, used for exhibitions. - in: wikipedia

Amsterdam - Netherlands

Amsterdam is one of those cities that I'd like to visit again and that may happen in a few months, I'm not sure yet though. 

Ara wrote me this card exactly one month ago. 

Photo: JOJJIK

Some fun facts about Amesterdam.

- 165: That’s the number of canals in Amsterdam. In total these waterways add up to more than 100 kilometers or about 60 miles. The Seventeenth-century canal ring area of Amsterdam inside the Singelgracht became part of the UNESCO World Heritage list in 2010;

- 11,000,000: That’s the approximate number of wooden poles that support Amsterdam’s buildings. All of the structures in the city are supported by 15 to 20 meter long wood poles that sink through the mud and are fixed in a sandy layer that is 11 meters deep on average;

- 25,000: That’s the number of bicycles that end up in Amsterdam’s canals each year;

- 1,281: That’s the number of bridges in all of Amsterdam;

- 881,000: That’s approximately the number of bicycles in Amsterdam. Oddly enough, there are only about 799,400 people living in the city;

- 2,500: That’s approximately the number of houseboats in Amsterdam. - in: http://awesomeamsterdam.com/10-fun-facts-about-amsterdam/

Bock Casemates - Luxembourg

I've been to Luxembourg city a few years ago. It was a day trip from Bruxelles but it was enough to visit the city and explore the Bock casemates, one of the coolest places to visit there. 

Luís was there a few weeks ago. He sent me the 1st of these cards and the other was bought by me. 

Editions Gropalux

In 963, Count Siegfried built a fortified castle on the Bock promontory, which was soon to become the cradle of the city. In the course of the centuries, on the western side, mighty ring walls were added, which, however, did not foil the Burgundians in their attempt to conquer the city in 1443. The best builder-engineers of the new masters (the Burgundians, the Spaniards, the French, the Austrians and the German Confederation) eventually turned the city into one of the most powerful emplacements in the world, the "Gibraltar of the North". 

Its defences were bolstered by three fortified rings with 24 forts, 16 other strong defensive works and a unique 23 km long network of casemates: these could not only shelter thousands of soldiers and their horses, but also housed workshops, kitchens, bakeries, slaughter-houses etc. In 1867, after the declaration of neutrality,the military withdrew from the fortress and during the following 16 years 90% of the defences were demolished. In 1875, the superstructure of the Bock, a tremendous construction, was razed. However, it proved to be impossible to blow up the casemates, without also demolishing part of the city, so the entrances and the key connecting galleries were sealed. In spite of this, 17 kilometres of tunnels remain, often on different levels and tremendous stairways penetrate up to 40 metres inside the rock face. - in: http://www.visitluxembourg.com/en/place/castle/bock-casemates-luxembourg

Turnhout - Belgium

Luzia has been to Europe a few months ago and now she's about to return, this time to visit Portugal. I hope I can meet her again. 

Turnhout is a city located in the Flemish province of Antwerp in Belgium. The beguinage was recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1998.

Photo: www.ludoverhoeven.de

Thought to have been founded in the 13C and rebuilt in the 16C and 17C, this is a charming complex, with houses set around a small triangular square overlooked by a Baroque church. A museum devoted to the begijnhof is housed at no 56. - in: https://travelguide.michelin.com/europe/belgium/flanders/antwerp/turnhout/ancien-beguinage-de-turnhout

St. John's Hospital, Brugge - Belgium

St. John's Hospital in beautiful Brugges. Brugges is one of my favorite cities in Europe! Loved it ❤ 

The 1st card was bought by me and the 2nd is an official.

Saint John’s Hospital has an eight hundred-year-old history of caring for pilgrims, travellers, the poor and the sick. Visit the medieval wards where the nuns and monks performed their work of mercy.

Sint-Janshospitaal is one of the oldest preserved hospital buildings in Europe. In the museum, you can learn more about hospital life in the past and how the wards would have looked then. Furniture, paintings, sculptures, silverware, and pewterware are the silent witnesses of the care for bodies and souls that took place in this hospital through the centuries. The building’s supporting framework is also unique and is one of the oldest and largest in Europe.

BE-492648, sent by Pascal.

The old infirmary took patients in from the 12th to the middle of the 19th century. Initially anyone in need of food or a bed could come here. The nuns, however, had limited medical knowledge and devoted themselves mainly to the care of the soul. Paintings and sculptures of healing saints, reliquaries, and an atmospheric chapel bear witness to a strong faith. In the 19th century the hospital moved to a nearby neo-gothic building of bright red brick, where patients could go until 1978. - in: https://www.visitbruges.be/en/sint-janshospitaal-saint-johns-hospital

Augustusburg Palace - Germany

Anja and Heidi sent me these cards in 2011. Back then I needed a card from one of the Brühl Palaces to have all the german UNESCO sites. Since 2011 6 other sites were added to the WHS list. 

Augustusburg Palace – together with Falkenlust Palace and their extensive gardens – was added to the World Heritage List in 1984.

Augustusburg Palace represents one of the first examples of Rococo creations in Germany. For the Cologne elector and archbishop Clemens August of the House of Wittelsbach it was the favourite residence.

In 1725 the Westphalian architect Johann Conrad Schlaun was commissioned by Clemens August to begin the construction of the palace on the ruins of a medieval moated castle.

In 1728, the Bavarian court architect François de Cuvilliés took over and made the palace into one of the most glorious residences of its time. Until its completion in 1768, numerous outstanding artists of European renown contributed to its beauty. A prime example of the calibre of artists employed here is Balthasar Neumann, who created the design for the magnificent staircase, an enchanting creation full of dynamism and elegance.

The magical interplay of architecture, sculpture, painting and garden design made the Brühl Palaces a masterpiece of German Rococo.

From 1949 onwards, Augustusburg Palace was used for representative purposes by the German Federal President and the Federal Government for many decades.

Today, the state of North Rhine-Westphalia maintains these palaces for the public as museums, preserving its status as an internationally renowned World Heritage Site. - in: http://www.schlossbruehl.de/en_augustusburg_palace

DE-6048588 & DE-5935736

Officials from Germany. 

Photo: B. Böhmer

DE-6048588, sent by Ariane (I think).

The towers of two churches, Hugenottenkirche and Neustädter Kirche in Erlanger, a city in Bavaria.

Martin Vollet/2016

DE-5935736, sent by Lea.
Neuendettelsau Palace and Lutheran St. Nikolai church in Neuendettelsau, another Bavarian city.

Cinque Terre - Italy

Cinque Terre was on Ara's must visit list and is also on my list. I really, really want to go there someday. 

The Cinque Terre (five towns) is a string of five fishing villages perched high on the Italian Riviera (region Liguria) which until recently were linked only by mule tracks and accessible only by rail or water.

An ancient system of footpaths is still the best way to visit the five villages: Monterosso, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore.

The Cinque Terre is noted for its beauty. Over centuries, people have carefully built terraces to cultivate grapes and olives on the rugged, steep landscape right up to the cliffs that overlook the Mediterranean Sea.

The breathtaking views of harbours far below the wild but hospitable coastline along with the medieval fortresses and plentiful vines and vibrant colours make this a memorable holiday. - in: http://www.cinqueterre.eu.com/en/

The Cinque Terre are classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. They are also a National Park and Protected Marine Area with the aim of protecting this great cultural heritage and natural environment. 

Varenna - Italy

There's no better way to start a year than travelling somewhere. I bet Ara agrees with me. Last January she traveled to Italy. 

Varenna is an attractive village on the eastern shore of Lake Como, looking over the central part of the lake towards Bellagio. Varenna's picturesque lanes and old fishermen's houses are unpretentiously appealing, and some visitors prefer the town to its grander neighbours. Although Varenna is a tourist destination, and its pretty waterfront and tiny stone beach fill up with holidaymakers, it has somehow a more authentic air than the other hotel-packed resorts. The main tourist activities in Varenna are relaxing by the lake, and visiting the gardens of two villas, Villa Monastero and Villa Cipressi.

Varenna is a useful gateway to Lake Como, as it lies on a railway line with direct trains to Milan, and is connected to the other lake resorts by regular car and passenger ferries. - in: http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/lombardy/varenna.html

Limoges Cathedral - France

I've added this card to my favorites wall just a few days ago and now, thanks to Damien, is already in my collection. Love it!! 

Editions RENE

Limoges Cathedral (French: Cathédrale Saint-Étienne de Limoges) is a Roman Catholic church located in Limoges, France. It is a national monument and the seat of the Bishop of Limoges.

The construction of the Gothic cathedral began in 1273 and finished only in 1888 when the nave was connected to the belltower. It is noted for its Renaissance rood loft built in 1534 and for the fine, partly octagonal, bell tower. - in: wikipedia

FR-813018

Côte-d'Or is a department in the eastern part of France. Some of the major tourist attractions in the department are castles. These are some of them. 

M.G. Editions

FR-813018, sent by Yannick

Castles on the card: Bussy-Rabutin; Époisses; Flavigny; Savigny-lès-Beaune; La Rochepot; Butte de Thil; Châteauneuf-en-Auxois; Dijon and Semur-en-Auxois. 

Fourvière Basilica, Lyon - France

At first glance it may not look like it but these postcards are both showing the Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière in Lyon.

The first postcard was sent by Valérie in 2013 and the second by Margarida who sent me, a little while ago, an envelope with postcards from her last trips.

Editions André

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière is a minor basilica in Lyon. It was built with private funds between 1872 and 1884 in a dominating position in the city. 

Fourvière is dedicated to the Virgin Mary, who saved the city of Lyon from a cholera epidemic sweeping Europe in 1823.

During the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1), Prussian forces, having taken Paris, were progressing south towards Lyon. Their halt and retreat were, once again, attributed by the Church to the intercession of the Virgin Mary.

Perched on top of the Fourvière hill, the basilica looms impressively over the city of Lyon, from where it can be seen from many vantage points; not unintentionally, the basilica of Fourvière has become a symbol of the city.

The design of the basilica, by Pierre Bossan, draws from both Romanesque and Byzantine architecture, two non-Gothic models that were unusual choices at the time. It has four main towers, and a belltower topped with a gilded statue of the Virgin Mary. It features fine mosaics, superb stained glass,[3] and a crypt of Saint Joseph.

Fourvière actually contains two churches, one on top of the other. The upper sanctuary is very ornate, while the lower is a much simpler design. Work on the triumphant basilica was begun in 1872 and finished in 1884. Finishing touches in the interior were not completed until 1964. - in: wikipedia

Lyon's Cathedral - France

At this moment I only think about my holidays, when to go, where, with whom! I've a few plans, checked flight prices, trains, buses, tours ... anyway, everything is possible.

Paula and Leninha didn't take too long to decide where to spend a weekend last month. Lyon was their choice. They were not happy with the postcards they saw, nor with the prices but still, they sent some postcards to some postcrossing friends. 

In 2013 Tiago also sent a postcard from there and in 2006 I did not see any cathedral cards there but one of my pictures became a postcard a few years later.

Editions André

 The Cathédrale St-Jean was built over the course of several centuries, from about 1165 to 1480. The apse and choir is Romanesque, while the nave and facade are Gothic.
Church councils were held in Lyon Cathedral in 1245 and 1274. It also hosted a Renaissance wedding: in 1600, King Henry IV married Marie de Medici (whom he had just met) in the cathedral.
The medieval exterior of the Cathédrale St-Jean has a solid and solemn appearance. The oldest part is the east end, which was mostly completed by the end of the 12th century; the apse is considered a masterpiece of Lyonnais Romanesque architecture.

 M. G. Editions

The Gothic nave with flying buttresses was built in the 13th century and the west facade is a Rayonnant Gothic work of the 14th century. The portals bear medallions depicting the Zodiac, Creation and the Life of St. John.

Inside, highlights include 13th-century stained glass windows in the choir and beautiful window tracery and vaulting in the side chapels. Especially notable among the latter is the Flamboyant Gothic Chapel of the Bourbons.

Probably the most unique and interesting feature of Lyon's cathedral is the 14th-century astronomical clock in the north transept. A marvel of technology and beauty, it chimes at 12pm, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm while a rooster crows and angels herald. - in: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/france/lyon-cathedral-st-jean

Photo: Marta Cairrão

When I visited Lyon in 2006, I've bought lots of cards but i didn't find a single one of this cathedral. I love religious temples cards, so I had to create a touchnote card using one of the pictures I took there.

Angoulême - France

I really like street art and it is probably a nice idea to start a street art cards collection. I'll think about that.

The southwestern French town of Angoulême is named a street art capital with it’s more than 20 commissioned murals. 

Editions RENE

Damien sent me this card with the mural, Le Jardin Extraordinaire  (The Extraordinary Garden), painted by Florence Cestac in 2001. 

Viana do Castelo - Portugal

Viana do Castelo is a lovely city in northern Portugal. On this card sent by Inês is possible to see some of the city's attractions. 

www.edigpostal.com

Situated at the mouth of the Lima river, between the ocean and the mountains, the charming city of Viana do Castelo is steeped in tradition. Historically, the city was a crucial point of departure during the Age of Discovery, when many Portuguese explorers embarked to discover the unknown world.

Today, Viana do Castelo is a lively fishing port, renowned for its compelling architecture, featuring Manueline and Renaissance influences as well as innovative contemporary design. Below the hills of Santa Luzia, the narrow, winding streets are lined with beautiful palaces and houses constructed over the centuries. Visitors will also enjoy the beautiful Cabedelo beach across the Lima estuary. - in: http://www.portugal-live.net/UK/places/viana-do-castelo.html