CZ-628050

Vysehrad is one of the most important historical places in Prague. It is a mighty fortress on a high cliff above the river Vltava. You can recognize it from far thanks to Gothic towers of the Church of St. Peter and Paul, situated there. Vysehrad is a storied place and a seat of the first King of Bohemia in the 11 th century. Remains of various buildings on the hill illustrate the colorful history of the place. - in: http://www.prague.cz/vysehrad/

Foto: Antonin Holub

CZ-628050, sent by Jana.

The most notable building at Vysehrad in Prague is the Capitular Church of St. Peter and Paul. It was built already in the 11 th century by the first Bohemian King Vratislav II. as a part of his new residence. It became an important religious centre. The chapter was independent of the Prague bishopric and it was subordinated only to the Pope in Rome.

The Church of St. Peter and Paul was built according to the church in Rome with the same name. It was rebuilt many times through the centuries. It was a Romanesque basilica originally, and Charles IV. had it rebuilt as a high-Gothic church in the 14 th century. Three aisles and side chapels were built there.

Baroque rebuilding came in 1720s and finally the church gained its neo-Gothic features in the 19 th century. The two high pseudo-Gothic towers were added between 1902 and 1903. - in: http://www.prague.cz/church-of-st-peter-and-paul/

UA-1280286

An official from Ukraine with the monument to Taras Shevchenko in Lviv. 

© Photo Ruslan Lytvyn

UA-1280286, sent by Victoria.

The Shevchenko Monument is a recent addition to Lviv’s cultural landscape.  It was established in 1992, and despite its newness has become one of the most visible images of Lviv. The monument depicts Taras Shevchenko, Ukraine’s greatest poet and the spiritual leader of the Ukrainian nation. There’s a 12-meter stela to the left of figure of Shevchenko, which is meant to symbolize the “wave of a Ukrainian revival”.  Located in the very heart of the city, the monument is a popular meeting point day and night for performances and informal gatherings. - in: http://lvivalive.com/shevchenko-monument

Novodevichy Convent - Russia

 A few weeks ago I've received my 4th card of the Novodevichy Convent in Moscow. It was about time to dedicate a single and entire post to this beautiful complex, classified as UNESCO WHS in 2004.

These cards were sent by Natalia, Svetlana, Mark and Tatiana.

Founded in 1524 by Grand Duke Vasily III to celebrate the recapture of Smolensk from the Lithuanians, the Novodevichy Convent is one of the most beautiful sights in Moscow. It is particularly notable for its architectural harmony of which its position, on the banks of the Moskva River, allows excellent views.

 The postcard loveliness belies the Convent's original function as one of the ring of fortresses that guarded the outskirts of the medieval city. Novedichy was positioned strategically to protect the main southern access road to the city at the point where it crossed the Moskva. The convent has enjoyed a prominent place throughout its history, in part as a repository for powerful and troublesome women, most famously the Regent Sophia, Peter the Great's half-sister, who did much to rebuild the convent in the 1680's before being confined here after the streltsy revolted in support of her in 1698.

RU-3635234, sent by Svetlana.

During Napoleon's invasion, the monastery weathered French efforts to blow it to pieces, thanks to some quick-thinking nuns who managed to extinguish the fuses on casks of gunpowder after the soldiers had fled. The convent also made notable appearances in 19th Century fiction, as the site of Pierre's proposed execution in War and Peace, and as the meeting place for Lyovin and Kitty in Anna Karenina (the Maiden Field, below the convent walls, was Moscow's most fashionable skating rink, frequented by Tolstoy).

RU-160449, sent by Mark.

After the Revolution, the Convent was turned into the Museum of the Emancipation of Women, but suffered less than many of its counterparts, and was one of the first to be returned to the Church in the patriotic fervor that followed victory in 1945. Nuns did not return here until 1994, however, and it is still much more of a tourist attraction than a working religious institution - for which we can only be grateful considering the wealth of treasures to be seen.

The Cathedral of Our Lady of Smolensk is the oldest, and the most important, building in the convent. It was built at the time of the Convent's founding, although its dazzling onion domes were added over a century later. The interior is also impressive, with glorious frescoes dating from 1684 and painted by Dmitry Grigorev of Yaroslavl. - in: http://www.moscow.info/orthodox-moscow/novodevichy-convent.aspx

Officials from Russia

Some of the last officials from Russia. 

RU-3635237, sent by Kate.

The State Hermitage is a museum of art and culture in Saint Petersburg, Russia. One of the largest and oldest museums in the world, it was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great and has been open to the public since 1852. Its collections, of which only a small part is on permanent display, comprise over three million items, including the largest collection of paintings in the world. - in: wikipedia

The Raphael Loggias, on the card, are the exact copy of the Gallery in the Papal Palace in Vatican City. 

RU-3635229, sent by Marina.

This is a chapel located in the Heroes Halley in Volgograd, a city in the south-eastern European part of Russia. 

RU-3637157, sent by Alena.

An autumn view of a park somewhere in Russia or in the world. 

BY-1597478

And now an official also from Belarus showing the Palace of the Rumyantsevs and the Paskeviches in Gomel. 

Photo by A. Makaranka

BY-1597478, sent by Christina.

The construction of the castle in the style of early Classism began in 1777. 

In the 19th and early 20th centuries the palace witnessed lavish receptions, balls and official events. The residence hosted many members of the Romanov imperial family.

The residence, its rich library and collections became part of the Museum of Art and History which was opened in 1919.

The palace was destroyed and restored several times. It suffered the most severe damage during an uprising in 1919 and the Great Patriotic War.

Throughout its history the palace was used for various purposes. It housed a telephone station, a library, a puppet theater, a youth center and a museum.

Today the former residence of the aristocrats in Gomel is one of the most interesting and frequently visited Belarusian museums and a major historical, cultural and educational center. - in: http://www.belarus.by/en/travel/belarus-life/gomel-palace

Dudutki Museum - Belarus

A card from my favorites sent by Olena. 

The museum complex of Dudutki dedicated to ancient folk crafts and technologies. 

The museum of Dudutki is located 40 km far from Minsk, in Pukhovichi district, in a picturesque place near the Ptich River, a kilometer and a half far from the village of Dudichi.

Photo by A. Kliashchuk

Dudutki windmill was constructed in 1903-05 by brothers Michael and Ivan Polyakov. in the village of Berezovka which is located in Kormyansk district of Gomel province. It is a sample of towel windmills. Its height is 14 m and there are five floors inside. During the times of collectivization the mill was taken from the brothers who were exiled to Siberia and given to a local communal farm.

The mill functioned till the 70s of the 20th c. and then it was abandoned and started to decay. ; upon the initiative of Eugene Budinas, a museum founder, in June 1992 it was brought to the museum of Dudutki and restored by carpenters of Victor Karachun supervised by architect Sergey Sergachev and artist Boris Tsitovich. On the right of the windmill there is a miller’s house for guests where countrymen who came to the miller but didn’t manage to grind their grain could have dinner and stay at night. - in: http://dudutki.by/en/

Latvian National Costumes

In exactly 4 months I'll be flying to Lithuania. Once there I'll go on a day trip to Latvia's capital city, Riga. According to the Baltic Travel Group (2012 information), in Riga tourists can take pictures with girls dressed in national costumes. Ok, if I see them, I'll take a picture with them or at least, take a picture of them.

Thanks Katy for the card. 

Foto: Ieva Dãbolina

The girls will be dressed in bright Liv, Nīca, Lielvarde and Northern Vidzeme national costumes. 

Latvia is rich with Song and Dance Festival traditions, however, those visiting Riga have little opportunities to really see traditional Latvian culture. For the development of the local tourism industry, it is important to bring in this Latvian culture to the city environment, where persons can enjoy this culture without going out to look for it. - in: http://www.baltic.travel/company/press-centre/news/date/2012/08/02/tourists-can-take-pictures-with-girls-dressed-in-national-costume