Egeskov Castle - Denmark

Getting cards of new castles is almost as good as getting cards of new UNESCO sites. Egeskov is one of the most famous and historic castles in Denmark bur I still didn't have any cards of it. 

Egeskov Castle is located near Kværndrup, in the south of the island of Funen. The castle is Europe's best preserved Renaissance water castle.
Egeskov was first mentioned in 1405. The castle structure was erected by Frands Brockenhuus in 1554.
The castle is constructed on oaken piles and located in a small lake with a maximum depth of 5 metres (16 ft). Originally, the only access was by means of a drawbridge. According to legend, it took an entire forest of oak trees to build the foundation, hence the name Egeskov (oak forest).
The estate has belonged to the Bille-Brahe family since 1784, when they acquired it from descendants of the Brockenhuus family. In 1882 it was inherited by the counts Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille, who still own it. - in: wikipedia

DE-9598252

 Another official sent from Germany but the lighthouse on the card is from Denmark. 

Christian Back

DE-9598252, sent by Anke.

Taksensand lighthouse is located on the small island of Als in Denmark.

It stands on the water´s edge and its boulder foundation looks beautiful together with the stony seach.
The lighthouse was built in 1905 and was originally 32 metres high.
In 1953 the lighthous was reduced in hight to 19 metres. - in: https://www.visitsonderborg.com

Jægersborg Dyrehave - Denmark

One of the most frustrating things for an UNESCO card collector is probably to visit a missing site and can't find any cards of it. That was what happened to visit when I visited Jægersborg Dyrehave, a park north of Copenhagen. This park was one of the three forests included on the UNESCO WHS list inscribed as Par force hunting landscape in North Zealand in 2015. 

I've never seen cards from this place before and they seem quite hard to get. I was hoping to find some cards there but came back empty handed :( I actually saw a few oldish black and white cards in a... closed store. 

Doris had the same problem, couldn't find cards, so she had a few cards printed with some pictures she took there. This one shows a burial mound in Jægersborg Hegn.

Photo by Doris

Dyrehaven, which literally means "the deer park", is a natural resort filled with lush forests, small lakes and wide, open landscapes. As the name might reveal, Dyrehaven is renowned for the more than 2000 free range deer that inhabit the park, and you'll surely come across a herd of grazing deer on your way through. 

Besides from the beautiful landscape, Dyrehaven also has a significant history that dates back hundreds of years. In 2015, Dyrehaven was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the par force landscape that was once used for hunting by the Danish royalty. - in: https://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/deer-park-gdk414367

Bronze Age burial mounds are scattered throughout the large Dyrehaven park. In the forests near the amusement park, by the palace and dotted about individually and in groups. The landscape surrounding the Eremitage Palace is also interesting because is clearly resembles the open landscape of the Bronze Age, with scattered trees, copses and the clearly visible burial mounds. Farther north, in Jægersborg Hegn, the burial mounds have been embraced by the forest. - in: http://www.kulturarv.dk/1001fortaellinger/en_GB/jaegersborg-dyrehave-and-jaegersborg-park

Christiansfeld - Denmark

Here comes a card from another new UNESCO site in my collection. Christiansfeld in Denmark was added to the World Heritage Site list in 2015. 

Tack Doris.

Founded in 1773 in South Jutland, the site is an example of a planned settlement of the Moravian Church, a Lutheran free congregation centred in Herrnhut, Saxony. The town was planned to represent the Protestant urban ideal, constructed around a central Church square. The architecture is homogenous and unadorned, with one and two-storey buildings in yellow brick with red tile roofs. The democratic organization of the Moravian Church, with its pioneering egalitarian philosophy, is expressed in its humanistic town planning. The settlement’s plan opens onto agricultural land and includes important buildings for the common welfare such as large communal houses for the congregation’s widows and unmarried men and women. The buildings are still in use and many are still owned by the local Moravian Church community. - in: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1468

Europe RR - Group 113 * Not my country

As the name of the group says, this time we were supposed to send cards from others countries than ours. Irene is from Italy and sent me a card from Germany; Gerald is from Germany and sent a card from Denmark; I'm from Portugal and sent cards from Czech Republic and Poland. 

© Schöning GmbH & Co. KG

Some famous and not so famous Berlin's attraction: Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe also known as the Holocaust Memorial; Bellevue Palace; Gendarmenmarkt square; Alexanderplatz square; Olympiastadion; Bradenburg Gate; Reichstag and Congress Hall. 

Foto: Trojaborgs Forlag

Danish views, unfortunately not identified. 

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

Stevens Klint - Denmark

I hardly get cards from new UNESCO sites nowadays, this one from Denmark was probably the last one. 

Stevns Klint is a white chalk cliff located some 6 km (3.7 mi) southeast of Store Heddinge on the Danish island of Zealand. It was declared as a UNESCO WHS in 2014.

The card was sent by Rebekka.

This geological site comprises a 15 km-long fossil-rich coastal cliff, offering exceptional evidence of the impact of the Chicxulub meteorite that crashed into the planet at the end of the Cretaceous, about 65 million years ago. Researchers think that this caused the most remarkable mass extinction ever, responsible for the disappearance of over 50 per cent of all life on Earth. The site harbours a record of the cloud of ash formed by the impact of the meteorite – the exact site being at the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. An exceptional fossil record is visible at the site, showing the complete succession of fauna and micro-fauna charting the recovery after the mass extinction. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1416

Nyhavn - Copenhagen

Thanks to Genek, I finally have cards from beautiful Nyhavn in Copenhagen. I really want to visit the Danish capital city and I can imagine myself taking dozens of pictures in this area. 

Nyhavn is a 17th-century waterfront, canal and entertainment district in Copenhagen, Denmark. Stretching from Kongens Nytorv to the harbour front just south of the Royal Playhouse, it is lined by brightly coloured 17th and early 18th century townhouses and bars, cafes and restaurants. The canal harbours many historical wooden ships.

 Edition Cromática S. L. * Foto: Tullio Gatti

Nyhavn was constructed by King Christian V from 1670 to 1673, dug by Swedish prisoners of war from the Dano-Swedish War 1658–1660. It is a gateway from the sea to the old inner city at Kongens Nytorv (King's Square), where ships handled cargo and fishermens' catch. It was notorious for beer, sailors, and prostitution. Danish author Hans Christian Andersen lived at Nyhavn for some 18 years.

As ocean-going ships grew larger, Nyhavn was taken over by internal Danish small vessel freight traffic. After World War II land transport took over this role and small vessel traffic disappeared from the Port of Copenhagen, leaving Nyhavn largely deserted of ships.

In the mid-1960s, the Nyhavn Society  was founded with the aim of revitalising the area. In 1977, Nyhavn was inaugurated as a veteran ship and museum harbour by Copenhagen’s Lord Mayor Egon Weidekamp. In 1980 Nyhavn quay was pedestrianised; it had been used as a parking area in the previous years which had coincided with a dwindling of harbour activities. Since then it has become a popular spot for tourists and locals alike, serving the function of a square according to architects Jan Gehl and Lars Gemzøe.

 Edition Cromática S. L. * Foto: Niels Christiansen

The northern side of Nyhavn is lined by brightly coloured townhouses built with wood, bricks, and plaster. The oldest house, at No. 9, dates from 1681.

Between 1845 and 1864, Hans Christian Andersen lived at No. 67, where a memorial plaque now stands.

Nyhavn Veteran Ship and Museum Harbour, occupying the inner section of Nyhavn, between the Nyhavn Bridge and Kongens Nytorv, is lined with old ships. From the foundation of the heritage harbour in 1977, the south side of the canal has been reserved for museum ships owned by the Danish National Museum, which received a donation of carefully restored ships from A. P. Møller, while the northern side of the canal was put at the disposal of the Nyhavn Society and privately owned, still usable wooden ships.  - in: wikipedia

Rømø Island - Denmark

Rømø is one of the island of the Wadden Sea National Park in Denmark. Since June 2014 it has constituted the Danish part of the UNESCO's Wadden Sea World Heritage Site. 

This card is also from a missing site in my collection. It was sent by Christa. 

The Wadden Sea is of particular importance because it is one of the world's most valuable tidal areas, being located in the middle of the Eastern Atlantic migratory routes. It attracts between 10-12 million migratory birds each year that use the coastline as their stopover and wintering area in northern Europe.

In addition to the birdlife, this vast wetland area with its miles of precious beaches is home to Denmark’s largest population of spotted seals, with sightings throughout the summer months being virtually guaranteed. - in: http://www.visitdenmark.co.uk/en-gb/south-jutland/nature/exploring-wadden-sea-denmarks-newest-national-park

Foto: Trojaborgs Forlag

Rømø is a Danish island in the Wadden Sea. The island has 650 inhabitants as of 1 January 2011 and covers an area of 129 km². Rømø is a popular tourist spot each year, attracted by the clothing optional beaches which can be driven on with motor vehicles legally.

Rømø is now the southernmost of Denmark's Wadden Sea Islands. It is linked to the Danish mainland by a road running across a causeway. - in: wikipedia

Little Mermaid - Denmark

Located at Langelinje Pier, the Little Mermaid stutue is one of Copenhagen's most famous tourist attractions. 

This beautiful card was sent by Chris. 

Edition Cromática S. L. © Distribution Forlaget Svanen Aps

Unveiled on 23 August 1913, The Little Mermaid was a gift from Danish brewer Carl Jacobsen to the City of Copenhagen.

The sculpture is made of bronze and granite and was inspired by Hans Christian Andersen’s fairy tale about a mermaid who gives up everything to be united with a young, handsome prince on land.

Every morning and evening she swims to the surface from the bottom of the sea and, perched on her rock in the water, she stares longingly towards the shore hoping to catch a glimpse of her beloved prince.

Carl Jacobsen fell in love with the character after watching a ballet performance based on the fairy tale at the Royal Danish Theatre in Copenhagen.

The brewer was so captivated by both the fairy tale and the ballet that he commissioned the sculptor Edvard Eriksen to create a sculpture of the mermaid.

The sculpture was inspired by ballerina Ellen Price, who in 1909 danced the lead role in the ballet The Little Mermaid at the Royal Theatre.

However, Ellen Price would not model in the nude for sculptor Edvard Eriksen. Thus Eriksen’s wife, Eline Eriksen, posed for the sculpture of The Little Mermaid.

The little mermaid has several times been the victim of vandalism. Twice she has lost her head, once the arm was sawn off, and several times she has had paint poured on her.

But every time she is rescued and restored, so she can stay in her place by the water and bid travellers welcome to Copenhagen harbour. - in: http://www.visitcopenhagen.com/copenhagen/the-little-mermaid-gdk586951

NL-1699958

A great danish card sent as an official from Netherlands and sent by someone i've already met in a Postcrossing meeting.

For more than 450 years, Egeskov Castle has stood in its beautiful location in the landscape of Funen (Fyn) Island. Egeskov is famous for being the best preserved moat castle in Europe.

Photo by Carrebye Billedarkiv

NL-1699958, sent by Saskia.

Egeskov Castle, the house as we see it today, was built by Frands Brockenhuus and was completed in 1554.

The building, which looks so peaceful and idyllic to today's visitors was built for defence purposes. It consists of two long houses connected by a thick double wall - the first house could be abandoned and the fight continued from the second house. The double wall is so thick, it contains hidden stairs and a well to secure a water supply during a siege. The outer walls have machicolations for dropping solids or liquids on the enemy and embrasures, and the enemy's flank could be shot at from the towers. In addition, the only access to the house was across the drawbridge.
In the more than 400 years that have passed since it was built, various families have lived in the castle.
During this period, the castle was developed into an up-to-date model farm with its own dairy, power station and railway track to Kværndrup, and this formed the economic basis for the large, modern farm that Egeskov is to this day. - in: http://www.egeskov.dk/en/history

SE-46785

This is an official from Sweden but the card is showing the Great Hall of the Frederiksborg Castle, situated in Hillerød north of Copenhagen, Denmark.

SE-46785, sent by Miki.

Surrounded by the Castle Lake, a Baroque Garden and romantic landscaped gardens Frederiksborg Castle is an ideal excursion spot, offering cultural experiences as well as scenic walks and boat tours.
 Frederiksborg Castle is the largest Renaissance Castle in Scandinavia. It was built in the first decades of the 17th century by King Christian IV and incorporates the finest Renaissance architecture and craftsmanship.
 Since 1878, Frederiksborg Castle has housed the Museum of National History. A tour through the beautiful rooms of the museum is a tour through 500 years of Danish history, illustrated by portraits, history paintings, furniture and decorative art. Here you encounter people and events that have shaped Danish history from the Middle Ages to the 21st century. - in: http://www.dnm.dk/dk/uk_info.htm
The glorious long Knights Hall was totally damaged by the fire in 1859 - and meticulously reconstructed in 1860-1864. The grand hall is decorated with portraits of the Glücksborg Line of Kings and Queens. On the right - is the trumpeter balcony that was used to salute royalties - when they entered the Knights Hall. The historical tapestries of Karel von Mander that was ordered by King Christian IV was destroyed by the fire. - in: http://www.copenhagenet.dk/CPH-Frederiksborg-Castle.htm

DK-23307

Lovely, isn't it? It was one of my favorites from Denmark!!

 Photo by Skovfoged Bjorn Dossing

DK-23307, sent by Rita.

Denmark is home to a few animals that are unique to Denmark. These include the marine jaw worm wolf spider, and roe deer. The roe deer is smaller than most species of deer and is adapted to the colder climate of Denmark. The roe deer is most active in the early evening hours and lives in the wooded areas of Denmark. This species of deer was made famous by the original version of "Bambi". In the original version of this story, Bambi was a roe deer. - in: http://www.listofcountriesoftheworld.com/da-animals.html

Greenland

Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe (specifically Norway and later Denmark) for more than a millennium. Greenland is, by area, the world's largest island that is not a continent. With a population of 56,615 (January 2011 estimate) it is the least densely populated dependency or country in the world.

Photo by Alena a Jaroslav Klempírovi

Greenland has been inhabited, though not continuously, by Inuit peoples via Canada for 4500-5000 years. In the 10th century, Norsemen settled on the uninhabited southern part of Greenland. In the 13th century, the Inuit arrived, and in the late 15th century the Norse colonies were abandoned. In the early 18th century contact between Scandinavia and Greenland was re-established and Denmark established rule over Greenland.

Greenland became a Danish colony in 1814 after being under the rule of Denmark-Norway for centuries. With the Constitution of Denmark of 1953, Greenland became a part of the Kingdom of Denmark in a relationship known in Danish as Rigsfællesskabet (Commonwealth of the Realm). In 1979 Denmark granted home rule to Greenland, and in 2008 Greenland voted to transfer more power from the Danish royal government to the local Greenlandic government. This became effective the following year, with the Danish royal government in charge of foreign affairs, security (defence-police-justice), and financial policy, and providing a subsidy of DKK 3.4 billion, or approximately $11,300 per Greenlander, annually. - in: wikipedia

Kronborg Castle - Denmark

Heidi didn't only send me the Luxembourg card, she also sent this card from Denmark. She participated in a postcrossing meeting last weekend in Copenhagen. The meeting and saturday and friday she visited the Kronborg Castle.

This card was signed by her, MissMaple (NL), Lotty (BE), Dorthe (DK),gogge1 (DK), Christa (DK), levisia (FI), IreneK (FI), Giorgis (CH), Mikis (Pl) and Gforp (DK).

Kronborg is a star fortress situated near the town of Helsingør (immortalized as Elsinore in Shakespeare's Hamlet) on the extreme northeastern tip of Zealand at the narrowest point of the Øresund, the sound between Denmark and Sweden. In this part, the sound is only 4 km wide, hence the strategic importance of maintaining a sea fortress at this location commanding one of the few outlets of the Baltic Sea. The castle has for centuries been one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe and was added to UNESCO's World Heritage Sites list on November 30, 2000. - in: wikipedia

Jelling Stones - Denmark

I've also completed Denmark, that means i've the 4 danish Unesco sites. This card with the Runestone of Harald Bluetooth, the larger of the two Jelling stones. The card was sent by Steffi "Eeyore1974".

The Jelling Stones are enormous carved stones in Denmark. They are a Unesco WHS since 1994. The two stones are carved with runes. The Jelling Stones date back to the 10th century, and are located in the town of Jelling, in a churchyard. The first of the stones was raised by King Gorm the Old, and the second was raised by his son, Harald Bluetooth in memory of his parents, celebrating his conquest of Denmark and Norway, and his conversion of the Danes to Christianity. The runic inscriptions on these stones are considered the most well known in Denmark.

The inscription on the Runestone of Harald Bluetooth reads: "King Haraldr ordered this monument made in memory of Gormr, his father, and in memory of Thyrvé, his mother; that Haraldr who won for himself all of Denmark and Norway and made the Danes Christian."
The stone has a figure of Jesus Christ on one side and on another side a serpent wrapped around a lion. Christ is depicted as standing in the shape of a cross and entangled in what appear to be branches. One scholar has suggested that this imagry was used to suggest that Christ had replaced the Norse pagan god Odin, who in one myth hung for nine nights in the tree Yggdrasill. - in: wikipedia

Amalienborg Palace - Denmark

Like the Predjama Castle card, this one was also one of my favorites. It was sent by Genek "Gforp" from Denmark.

What i like on this card: the snow, the street lamps and the guards. Really beautiful.

"Amalienborg Palace is the winter home of the Danish royal family, and is located in Copenhagen, Denmark. It consists of four identical classicizing palace façades with rococo interiors around an octagonal courtyard (Amalienborg Slotsplads); in the center of the square is a monumental equaestrian statue of Amalienborg's founder, King Frederick V.

Amalienborg was originally built for four noble families; however, when Christiansborg Palace burnt down on 26 February 1794, the royal family bought the palaces and moved in. Over the years various kings and their families have resided in the four different palaces.

"Kongevagt - The King’s Guard – is exercised when the Queen is in residence – and will be accompanied by the Band of the Royal Danish Life Guards. The guards will departure from Rosenborg Castle at 11:30 and end at Amalienborg palace at 12:00, where changing of the guards takes place. After the parade and shift, the Guards leaves the drum and the Regents Flag on the drill ground in the daytime at Christians VII’s Palace beside the colonnade." - in: http://www.copenhagenet.dk/CPH-Amalienborg.htm

November RR - IX

More November RR cards.

This card from Switzerland arrived today. It wa sent by Grace "azzurri". I'll meet her and other postcrossers, next February in Zurich.... :P

Arosa is a municipality in the district of Plessur in the canton of Graubünden in Switzerland. It is known for being both a summer and a winter resort. Arosa possesses a well-known and safe skiing area and boasts over 60 kilometers (37 mi) of slopes.

No, this isn't an iceberg. Wissower Klinklen is, a chalk formation that can be found in the Jasmund National Park in the northeast of Rügen island. "The park is famous for the largest chalk cliffs of Germany, the so called Königsstuhl (German = "king's chair"). These cliffs are up to 161 m high above the Baltic Sea.
The Wissower Klinken, collapsed into the Baltic Sea on February 24, 2005 in a landslide caused by spring-thaw weather conditions." - in: wikipedia
The card was sent by "RikeH".

Anna "annab3783" sent me this card from Denmark with the Kronborg Castle, a new unesco whs in my collection :D.

"Kronborg is situated near the town of Helsingør (immortalised as Elsinore in Shakespeare's Hamlet) on the extreme northeastern tip of Zealand at the narrowest point of the Øresund, the sound between Denmark and Sweden. In this part, the sound is only 4 km wide, hence the strategic importance of maintaining a fortress at this location commanding one of the few outlets of the Baltic Sea. The castle has for centuries been one of the most important Renaissance castles in Northern Europe and was added to UNESCO's World Heritage Sites list on November 30, 2000." - in: wikipedia

New Unesco cards

3 new unesco cards and all of them kind of hard to get, from Portugal, Spain and Greenland, sent by Angélica.

"Škocjan Caves is a system of limestone caves in the Kras region in southwestern Slovenia, containing collapsed dolines, about five kilometres of underground passages, caves more than 200 metres deep and many waterfalls. This is one of the best-known sites in the world for the study of karstic (limestone) phenomena.
Škocjan Caves have been on the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites since 1986." - in: wikipedia

"The Prehistoric Rock-Art Site in the Côa valley is one of the largest known open air sites of Paleolithic art.
In the late 1980s, the engravings were discovered in Vila Nova de Foz Côa, in northeastern Portugal. The site in situated in the valley of the Côa river, and comprises thousands of engraved drawings of horses, bovines and other animal, human and abstract figures, dated from 22,000 to 10,000 years." - in: wikipedia
It was inscribed on the World Heritage list in 1998.

Monastery and Site of the Escurial, "built at the end of the 16th century on a plan in the form of a grill, the instrument of the martyrdom of St Lawrence, the Escurial Monastery stands in an exceptionally beautiful site in Castile. Its austere architecture, a break with previous styles, had a considerable influence on Spanish architecture for more than half a century. It was the retreat of a mystic king and became, in the last years of Philip II's reign, the centre of the greatest political power of the time." - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/318

"The Ilulissat Icefjord runs west 40 kilometres from the Greenland Ice Sheet to Disko Bay close to Ilulissat town. The glacier flows at a rate of 20-35 metres per day, resulting in around 20 billion tonnes of icebergs calved off and passing out of the fjord every year. Icebergs breaking from the glacier are often so large (up to a kilometer in height) that they are too tall to float down the fjord and lie stuck on the bottom of its shallower areas, sometimes for years, until they are broken up by the force of the glacier and icebergs further up the fjord. On breaking up the icebergs emerge into the open sea and initially travel north with ocean currents before turning south and running into the Atlantic Ocean. The Ilulissat Icefjord was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004." - in: wikipedia