Russia - Golden Mountains of Altai

"The Altai mountains in southern Siberia form the major mountain range in the western Siberia biogeographic region and provide the source of its greatest rivers – the Ob and the Irtysh. Three separate areas are inscribed: Altaisky Zapovednik and a buffer zone around Lake Teletskoye; Katunsky Zapovednik and a buffer zone around Mount Belukha; and the Ukok Quiet Zone on the Ukok plateau. The total area covers 1,611,457 ha. The region represents the most complete sequence of altitudinal vegetation zones in central Siberia, from steppe, forest-steppe, mixed forest, subalpine vegetation to alpine vegetation. The site is also an important habitat for endangered animal species such as the snow leopard." Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Mount Belukha, at 4,506m is the highest peak in the Altai mountains as viewed from Altaisky Zapovednik. Thanks to Piotr of Russia.

 

Postcard 2

Wonderful postcard of the Reserved Altai and Kuznetsk Alatau - Katunskiy Reserve. Thanks to Polina of Russia.

Georgia - Bagrati Cathedral and Gelati Monastery

"The construction of Bagrati Cathedral, named after Bagrat III, the first king of united Georgia, started at the end of the 10th century and was completed in the early years of the 11th century. Although partly destroyed by the Turks in 1691, its ruins still lie in the centre of Kutaisi. The Gelati Monastery, whose main buildings were erected between the 12th and 17th centuries, is a well-preserved complex, with wonderful mosaics and wall paintings. The cathedral and monastery represent the flowering of medieval architecture in Georgia." Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1 - Gelati Monastery

Postcard 2 - Bagrati Cathedral

Bagrati Cathedral mailed from Georgia. Thanks to Sini of Finland who visited Georgia.

Postcard 3 - Bagrati Cathedral

Nice view of 11th century Bagrati Cathedral. Cool Georgia map stamp. Thanks to Khatumy of Georgia.

Postcard 4 - Bagrati Cathedral

Bagrati Cathedral, Kutasi, Georgia. Thanks to Maria of Poland.

Belgium - France - Belfries of Belgium and France

"Twenty-three belfries in the north of France and the belfry of Gembloux in Belgium were inscribed as a group, an extension to the 32 Belgian belfries inscribed in 1999 as Belfries of Flanders and Wallonia. Built between the 11th and 17th centuries, they showcase the Roman, Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles of architecture. They are highly significant tokens of the winning of civil liberties. While Italian, German and English towns mainly opted to build town halls, in part of north-western Europe, greater emphasis was placed on building belfries. Compared with the keep (symbol of the seigneurs) and the bell-tower (symbol of the Church), the belfry, the third tower in the urban landscape, symbolizes the power of the aldermen. Over the centuries, they came to represent the influence and wealth of the towns." Source: UNESCO World Heritage

List of Belfries: ** In bold - already collected

I) BELGIUM
A) FLANDERS
Antwerp
** Antwerp Cathedral of Our Lady
- Antwerp City Hall
- Herentals Former City & 'Laken'(Cloth) Hall
- Lier City Hall and Belfry tower
- Mechelen St. Rumbolds Tower of the cathedral
- Mechelen Old Cloth Hall with Belfry, oldest part of the present-day City Hall

West Flanders
** Bruges Belfry known as Halletoren (Tower of the Halls) and [Market] Halls
- Diksmuide City Hall and Belfry
- Kortrijk Belfry known as Halletoren (Tower of the Hall) [4]
- Lo-Reninge (Lo) Former City Hall with Belfry, at present a hotel
- Menen City Hall and adjacent Belfry
- Nieuwpoort Grain Hall known as Stadshalle (City's [Market] Hall), with Belfry
- Roeselare City Hall, City's Market Hall, and Belfry
- Tielt Belfry known as Hallentoren (Tower of the Halls), Cloth Hall and Aldermen's Chamber
- Veurne Landhuis ("country-house", former seat of the Viscounty of Veurne-Ambacht) and Belfry
- Ypres Cloth Hall with Belfry

East Flanders
- Aalst Aldermen's House with Belfry
- Dendermonde City Hall with Belfry
- Eeklo City Hall with Belfry
** Ghent Belfry, Cloth Hall and Mammelokker
- Oudenaarde City Hall with Belfry

Flemish Brabant
- Leuven St. Peter's Church and tower
- Tienen St. Germanus Church with Stadstoren (City Tower)
- Zoutleeuw St. Leonard's Church

Limburg
- Sint-Truiden City Hall with Tower
- Tongeren Basilica of Our Lady with Stadstoren (City Tower)

B) WALLONIA
Hainaut
- Binche Belfry of the City Hall
- Charleroi Belfry of the City Hall
- Mons Belfry
- Thuin Belfry
- Tournai Belfry

Namur
- Gembloux Belfry
- Namur Belfry

II) FRANCE
A) NORD-PAS DE CALAIS
Nord
- Armentières Belfry of the City Hall
- Bailleul Belfry of the City Hall
- Bergues Belfry
- Cambrai Belfry of the St. Martin's Church
- Comines Belfry of the City Hall
- Douai Belfry of the City Hall
- Dunkirk Belfry of the City Hall
- Dunkirk Belfry of the St. Eligius Church
- Gravelines Belfry
** Lille Belfry of the City Hall
- Loos Belfry of the City Hall

Pas-de-Calais
- Aire-sur-la-Lys Belfry of the City Hall
- Arras Belfry of the City Hall
- Béthune Belfry
- Boulogne-sur-Mer Belfry of the City Hall
** Calais Belfry of the City Hall
- Hesdin Belfry of the City Hall

B) PICARDY
Somme
- Abbeville Belfry
- Amiens Belfry
- Doullens Belfry of the former Municipal Hall, at present the tourist information center
- Lucheux Belfry on the remaining City Gate
- Rue Belfry
- Saint-Riquier Belfry

Postcard 1 - Belgium - Belgium Map of Belfries
Map of Belgium with locations of towns with their belfries. The towns on the maps are Roeselare, Ieper, Oudenaarde, Tienen, Tongeren, Tournai, Mons, etc. Thanks to Fransoise of Brussels, Belgium.





Postcard 2 - Frabce  0 Belfries of Nord-Pas de Calais
Nice multiple of Beffrois Nord-Pas de Calais with Rugby 2011 stamp used. Thanks to Veronique for sending from France.

Postcard 3 - Belgium - Belfry of Antwerp

This is the Belfry of Antwerp of the Cathedral of Our Lady in Belgium. Nice postage stamps used. Thanks to Filip of Antwerp, Belgium.






Postcard 4 - Belgium - Brugges Belfry
Belfry of Brugge.





Postcard 5 - Belgium - Ghent Belfry
Ghent Belfry with Sint Baafsplein and Lakenhalle. Thanks to Ferro of Belgium.

Postcard 6 - France - Calais Belfry

Aerial view of Calais showing the Belfry of the Town Hall of Calais, France. Thanks to Veronique of France.

Postcard 7 - France - Belfry of City Hall, Lille

Here is a multi-view with a picture of the Belfry of City Hall of Lille, France in the bottom right.

Russia - Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments

"The 'Venice of the North', with its numerous canals and more than 400 bridges, is the result of a vast urban project begun in 1703 under Peter the Great. Later known as Leningrad (in the former USSR), the city is closely associated with the October Revolution. Its architectural heritage reconciles the very different Baroque and pure neoclassical styles, as can be seen in the Admiralty, the Winter Palace, the Marble Palace and the Hermitage." Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Vintage reprint postcard of main facase of Stock Exchange Building - Bizhevaya Square and Rostral Column, 1903. Thanks to Piotr of St. Petersburg, Russia.

Postcard 2 - St. Petersburg, Rostral Column

This 2003 card commemorates the 300th anniversary of St. Petersburg (1703-2003).




Postcard 3 - The Hermitage, The Winter Palace
The Hermitage is world famous for its beautiful elegant building and the masterpieces of art housed in this museum. Note the special Hermitage cancellation. Thanks to Karmanovsky of St. Petersburg.





Postcard 4 - Cathedral of Resurrection, St. Petersburg
Again thanks to Karmanovsky with special Hermitage cancellation.




Postcard 5 - Kazan Cathedral
Kazan is the icon of Mother God. Thanks to Anna of St. Petersburg.





Postcard 6 - Church of Resurrection of Christ
Great postcard of Church of the Resurrection of Christ in St. Petersburg, Russia. Thanks to Birgit of Germany.

Pitcairn Islands (United Kingdom) - Henderson Island

"Henderson Island, which lies in the eastern South Pacific, is one of the few atolls in the world whose ecology has been practically untouched by a human presence. Its isolated location provides the ideal context for studying the dynamics of insular evolution and natural selection. It is particularly notable for the 10 plants and four land birds that are endemic to the island." Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Henderson island. Thanks to Rachel who mailed from Gibraltar.

Saint Helena (UK) - Gough and Inaccessible Islands

"The site, located in the south Atlantic, is one of the least-disrupted island and marine ecosystems in the cool temperate zone. The spectacular cliffs of Gough and Inaccessible Islands, towering above the ocean, are free of introduced mammals and home to one of the world’s largest colonies of sea birds. Gough Island is home to two endemic species of land birds, the gallinule and the Gough rowettie, as well as to 12 endemic species of plants, while Inaccessible Island boasts two birds, eight plants and at least 10 invertebrates endemic to the island." Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Gough Island. Thanks to Rachel who mailed from Gibraltar.

South Korea - Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes

"Jeju Volcanic Island and Lava Tubes together comprise three sites that make up 18,846 ha. It includes Geomunoreum, regarded as the finest lava tube system of caves anywhere, with its multicoloured carbonate roofs and floors, and dark-coloured lava walls; the fortress-like Seongsan Ilchulbong tuff cone, rising out of the ocean, a dramatic landscape; and Mount Halla, the highest in Korea, with its waterfalls, multi-shaped rock formations, and lake-filled crater. The site, of outstanding aesthetic beauty, also bears testimony to the history of the planet, its features and processes." Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Yongcheon Cave, UNESCO World Heritage of Jeju. Thanks to Nurul of Malaysia for sending from Seoul, South Korea.

Postcard 2

The Royal Azalea Blossom of Mt. Hallasan of Jeju Island of South Korea. Nice stamps. Thanks to Joy for sending from South Korea.





Postcard 3
Mount Halla's Crater Lake. When I was in South Korea, I bought these postcards of Cheju. There are the three major sites of this UNESCO World Heritage.



Postcard 4
Manjanggul Grotto - the largest lava tube caves of Geomomoreum system.



Postcard 5
Seongsan tuff cone rising from the ocean floor.

Uganda - Bwindi Impenetrable National Park

"Located in south-western Uganda, at the junction of the plain and mountain forests, Bwindi Park covers 32,000 ha and is known for its exceptional biodiversity, with more than 160 species of trees and over 100 species of ferns. Many types of birds and butterflies can also be found there, as well as many endangered species, including the mountain gorilla." Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Nice postcard of silver back mountain gorilla of Uganda. Thanks to Mike.

Postcard 2

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park with a rainbow, inset map view of gorilla and location on map. Thanks to Demaris of USA.