ALBANIA / AUSTRIA / BELGIUM / BULGARIA / CROATIA / GERMANY / ITALY / ROMANIA / SLOVAKIA / SLOVENIA / SPAIN / UKRAINE - Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe

"The Ancient Beech Forests of Germany, represent examples of on-going post-glacial biological and ecological evolution of terrestrial ecosystems and are indispensable to understanding the spread of the beech (Fagus sylvatica) in the Northern Hemisphere across a variety of environments. The new inscription represents the addition of five forests totaling 4,391 hectares that are added to the 29,278 hectares of Slovakian and Ukranian beech forests inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2007. The tri-national property is now to be known as the Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany (Slovakia, Ukraine, Germany)." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1: From Albania

Amazing view of Valbona, Albania --- a river with a snowy peak on the background.

Thank you so much Indrit for sharing this wonderful card with me!

Postcard 2: From Germany

Amazing view indeed of Jasmund National Park, Sarah!

Thank you so much for sharing this card with me!

Postcard 3: From Germany, Mapcard

 

"Rügen is Germany's largest island, located in the Baltic Sea.
The island is famous for its huge chalk cliffs which are part of the Jasmund National Park, a UNESCO Site", shares Michele. Thank you so much Michele for this great card!


Postcard 4: From Ukraine

Thank you so much Galyna for the wonderful card with beautiful stamps!


Postcard 5: From Slovakia

This postcard completes my UNESCO WHS postcard from Slovakia!
Thank you so much Lubomir for sharing this wonderful postcard with me! ^-^

ALBANIA - Historic Centres of Berat and Gjirokastra

"Berat and Gjirokastra are inscribed as rare examples of an architectural character typical of the Ottoman period. Located in central Albania, Berat bears witness to the coexistence of various religious and cultural communities down the centuries. It features a castle, locally known as the Kala, most of which was built in the 13th century, although its origins date back to the 4th century BC. The citadel area numbers many Byzantine churches, mainly from the 13th century, as well as several mosques built under the Ottoman era which began in 1417. Gjirokastra, in the Drinos river valley in southern Albania, features a series of outstanding two-story houses which were developed in the 17th century. The town also retains a bazaar, an 18th-century mosque and two churches of the same period." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1: Berat

Postcard 2: Gjirokastra

Thank you so much Lilia for the 2 great postcards above

(with matching stamps) from Albania!

So happy to have them!!! My first two cards from Albania!

Thanks to you!!!

Postcard 3: Gjirokastra

 
Thank you so much dear Zuzana of Slovakia for your sending me this
postcard during your holidays to Albania!
So thoughtful of you... Hope you enjoyed your stay there!

ALBANIA - Butrint

"Inhabited since prehistoric times, Butrint has been the site of a Greek colony, a Roman city and a bishopric. Following a period of prosperity under Byzantine administration, then a brief occupation by the Venetians, the city was abandoned in the late Middle Ages after marshes formed in the area. The present archaeological site is a repository of ruins representing each period in the city’s development." -http://whc.unesco.org

This postcard completes my UNESCO Postcards Collection from Albania!

Thank you so much Indrit for sharing this awesome postcard with me!