LATVIA - Old town of Kuldīga

 "Located in the western part of Latvia, the town of Kuldīga is an exceptionally well-preserved example of a traditional urban settlement, which developed from a small medieval hamlet into an important administrative centre of the Duchy of Courland and Semigallia between the 16th and 18th centuries. The town structure of Kuldīga has largely retained the street layout of that period, and includes traditional log architecture as well as foreign-influenced styles that illustrate the rich exchange between local and travelling craftspeople from around the Baltic Sea. The architectural influences and craftsmanship traditions introduced during the period of the Duchy endured well into the 19th century." -https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1658

Thank you so much dear Zuzana of Slovakia for this wonderful postcard you sent long ago.   It's now a UNESCO Site!

GERMANY - The Palaces of King Ludwig II of Bavaria: Neuschwanstein, Linderhof, Schachen and Herrenchiemsee

 "This serial property consists of four grand palace complexes in Bavaria’s alpine region, built under King Ludwig II between 1868 and 1886. Designed as personal retreats and imaginative escapes, they reflect the romantic and eclectic spirit of the era. Drawing inspiration from the Wartburg Castle, Versailles, German fairy tales, and Wagner’s operas, the palaces showcase historicist styles and advanced 19th-century techniques. Carefully integrated into stunning natural landscapes, they embody Ludwig’s artistic vision. Opened to the public shortly after his death in 1886, these sites are now preserved as museums and remain major cultural landmarks." -https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1726

Postcard 1: During Summer

A surprise postcard from my thoughtful Tita Agnes who's residing now in Germany.

Thank you so much Tita for this wonderful postcard showing the Neuschwanstein Castle, the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle!

Postcard 2: During Winter

Thank you so much Ulli for this wonderful UNESCO postcard!

Postcard 3: During Winter

Thank you so much Thomas (who lives near this place) for this wonderful UNESCO postcard!

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! ^-^

POLAND - Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica

"The Churches of Peace in Jawor and Świdnica, the largest timber-framed religious buildings in Europe, were built in the former Silesia in the mid-17th century, amid the religious strife that followed the Peace of Westphalia. Constrained by the physical and political conditions, the Churches of Peace bear testimony to the quest for religious freedom and are a rare expression of Lutheran ideology in an idiom generally associated with the Catholic Church." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1

As always, thank you so much for sending me great cards
such as this, Boguslaw!

Postcard 2

Thank you so much for sharing with me this postcard, Krystyna!

It arrived too long because of the COVID-19 pandemic --- plenty of lockdowns.

Please comment below what is your postcard preference

so I can send back in return...

POLAND / UKRAINE - Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region in Poland and Ukraine

"Situated in the eastern fringe of Central Europe, the transnational property numbers a selection of sixteen tserkvas (churches). They were built of horizontal wooden logs between the 16th and 19th centuries by communities of Orthodox and Greek Catholic faiths. The tserkvas bear testimony to a distinct building tradition rooted in Orthodox ecclesiastic design interwoven with elements of local tradition, and symbolic references to their communities’ cosmogony.  The tserkvas are built on a tri-partite plan surmounted by open quadrilateral or octagonal domes and cupolas. Integral to tserkvas are iconostasis screens, interior polychrome decorations, and other historic furnishings. Important elements of some tserkvas include wooden bell towers, churchyards, gatehouses and graveyards." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1: From Poland - St. Michael the Archangel Tserkva, Turzańsk

Thank you so much Kasia for completing my UNESCO cards from your country!

But I still have to look for other Churches included in this list . ^-^

Postcard 2: From Poland - St. Michael the Archangel Tserkva, Smolnik

Thank you so much Marysia for this beautiful postcard!
Thank you too for using nice stamps!

Postcard 3: From Poland - Tserkva of St. Paraskevia, Kwiatoń



Postcard 4: From Poland - Virgin Mary's Care Tserkva, Owczary

For postcards 3 and 4, thank you so much to Krystyna!

Please message me whether you received postcards from me too.

So I can send if you did not receive anything from me.

I am still looking for my notes on swaps.

We re-arranged things during this pandemic period.

Thank you so much!

Postcard 5: From Ukraine - Holy Trinity Church, Zhovkva

Really really nice postcard!
Thank you so much, Kseniya for completing my UNESCO WHS postcards from Ukraine!
But I will still look for other Churches included in the list!

Postcard 6: From Ukraine - The Church of the Nativity of B.V. Mary, Nyzhniy Verbizh

Really really thankful for this postcard, Sasha!
And thanks for sharing with me a strange belief among the children in your country!
It's kind of weird and funny at the same time!
Your story made me smile! ^-^
Special thanks for the wonderful stamps!!!

Postcard 7: From Ukraine - Descent of the Holy Spirit Church, Potelych

Thank you so much Alona for adding this postcard in my collection!
Such amazing that these wooden tserkvas are still up these days...


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From Poland

• Tserkva of St. Michael the Archangel, Brunary
• Tserkva of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Chotyniec
• Tserkva of St. Paraskevia, Kwiatoń
• Virgin Mary's Care Tserkva, Owczary
• St. James the Less Tserkva, Powroźnik
• Tserkva of St. Paraskevia, Radruż
• St. Michael the Archangel Tserkva, Smolnik
• St. Michael the Archangel Tserkva, Turzańsk
  
  
  
  
  From Ukraine
  
  
  • Descent of the Holy Spirit Church, Potelych
  • Holy Trinity Church, Zhovkva
  • St. George's Church, Drohobych
  • St. Dmytro's Church, Matkiv
  • Descent of the Holy Spirit Church, Rohatyn
  • The Church of the Nativity of B.V.M., Nyzhniy Verbizh
  • The Church of St. Archangel Mykhailo, Uzhok
  • The Church of Ascension of Our Lord, Yasynia
    
    

ITALY - Venice and its Lagoon

"Founded in the 5th century and spread over 118 small islands, Venice became a major maritime power in the 10th century. The whole city is an extraordinary architectural masterpiece in which even the smallest building contains works by some of the world's greatest artists such as Giorgione, Titian, Tintoretto, Veronese and others." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1

 

Thank you so much for this card, Elena...

Postcard 2

Thank you so much Elena for this card!

I wish to visit Venice one day... =)

Postcard 3

Thank you so much for this card Lamberto!

Postcard 4

Thank you so much Zuzana for remembering me during your trip to Venice, Italy!

I'm sure you had a wonderful time there!

Postcard 5

Thank you so much Edo for sharing with me this postcard!

You are one lucky guy to be residing near this place! =)

Postcard 6

Thanks much for this colorful postcard, David!

It brightens up my day!

The stamp wasn't postmarked though..

ITALY - Cathedral, Torre Civica and Piazza Grande, Modena

"The magnificent 12th-century cathedral at Modena, the work of two great artists (Lanfranco and Wiligelmus), is a supreme example of early Romanesque art. With its piazza and soaring tower, it testifies to the faith of its builders and the power of the Canossa dynasty who commissioned it." -http://whc.unesco.org

Postcard 1

Thank you so much Chiara for this surprise postcard!

I so much appreciate your thoughtfulness. ^-^

Postcard 2

Thank you so much Jean Pierre for this UNESCO postcard!
A great addition in my collection!
Nice postmark indeed!