France - French Polynesia - Taputapuātea

"Taputapuātea on Ra’iatea Island is at the centre of the “Polynesian Triangle,” a vast portion of the Pacific Ocean, dotted with islands, and the last part of the globe to be settled by humans. The property includes two forested valleys, a portion of lagoon and coral reef and a strip of open ocean. At the heart of the property is the Taputapuātea marae complex, a political, ceremonial and funerary centre. It is characterized by a paved courtyard with a large standing stone at its centre. Widespread in Polynesia, the marae were places where the world of the living intersects the world of the ancestors. Taputapuātea is an exceptional testimony to 1,000"

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Taputapuatea is located on Ra'iatea island. This multi-view postcard of aerial views of French Polynesian islands views with Raiatea island on the bottom right corner. Thanks to Magali of French Polynesia.

Postcard 2
Marae Taputapuatea, French Polynesia is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Thanks to Patrik of Austria.

Poland - Ukraine - Wooden Tserkvas of the Carpathian Region in Poland and Ukraine

"Situated in the eastern fringe of eastern Europe, the transnational property numbers a selection of 16 tserkvas, churches, built of horizontal wooden logs between the 16th and 19th centuries by communities of the Eastern Orthodox and Greek Catholic faiths. They represent the cultural expression of four ethnographic groups and the formal, decorative and technical characteristics they developed over time. 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. They feature wooden bell towers, iconostasis screens, and interior polychrome decorations as well as churchyards, gatehouses and graveyards.

POLAND:
- Brunary Wyżne-Tserkva of Saint Michael the Archangel
- Chotyniec-Tserkva of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Kwiatoń-Tserkva of Saint Paraskeva (in my collection)
- Owczary-Tserkva of Our Lady’s Protection
- Powroźnik-Tserkva of Saint James the Less, the Apostle
- Radruż-Tserkva of Saint Paraskeva
- Smolnik-Tserkva of Saint Michael the Archangel (in my collection)
- Turzańsk-Tserkva of Saint Michael the Archangel (in my collection)

UKRAINE:
- Drohobych-Tserkva of Saint George (in my collection)
- Matkiv-Tserkva of the Synaxis of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Nyzhniy Verbizh-Tserkva of the Nativity of  Blessed Virgin Mary
- Potelych-Tserkva of the Descent of the Holy Spirit
- Rohatyn-Tserkva of the Descent of the Holy Spirit
- Uzhok-Tserkva of the Synaxis of the Archangel Michael
- Yasynia-Tserkva of Our Lord’s Ascension
- Zhovkva-Tserkva of the Holy Trinity"

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1 - UKRAINE - Saint George

Saint George of Drohobych of Ukraine. Thanks to Olesya of Ukraine.

Postcard 2A - POLAND - Turzansk - Saint Michael

Saint Michael of Turzansk Tserkva of Poland. Thanks to Joanna of Poland.

Postcard 2B - POLAND - Smolnik - Saint Michael

Saint Michael of Smolnik n. Sanem. Thanks to Boguslaw of Poland.

Postcard 3 - POLAND - St. Paraskevi
St Paraskevi Church in Radruz, Poland is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thanks to Sylvia of Poland.

India - Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks

"Nestled high in West Himalaya, India’s Valley of Flowers National Park is renowned for its meadows of endemic alpine flowers and outstanding natural beauty. This richly diverse area is also home to rare and endangered animals, including the Asiatic black bear, snow leopard, brown bear and blue sheep. The gentle landscape of the Valley of Flowers National Park complements the rugged mountain wilderness of Nanda Devi National Park. Together they encompass a unique transition zone between the mountain ranges of the Zanskar and Great Himalaya, praised by mountaineers and botanists for over a century and in Hindu mythology for much longer." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1 - Nanda Devi
Nanda Devi. Thanks to Akhil of India.

Postcard 2A - Valley of Flowers

Valley of Flowers - an official postcard issued by the India Postal Department. Thanks to Amit of India.

Postcard 2B - Valley of Flowers

A maxicard of Valley of Flowers National Park in the Himalayas in India - a UNESCO World Heritage site. Thanks to Amar of India.

India - Mountain Railways of India

"This site includes three railways. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway was the first, and is still the most outstanding, example of a hill passenger railway. Opened in 1881, its design applies bold and ingenious engineering solutions to the problem of establishing an effective rail link across a mountainous terrain of great beauty. The construction of the Nilgiri Mountain Railway, a 46-km long metre-gauge single-track railway in Tamil Nadu State was first proposed in 1854, but due to the difficulty of the mountainous location the work only started in 1891 and was completed in 1908. This railway, scaling an elevation of 326 m to 2,203 m, represented the latest technology of the time. The Kalka Shimla Railway, a 96-km long, single track working rail link built in the mid-19th century to provide a service to the highland town of Shimla is emblematic of the technical and material efforts to disenclave mountain populations through the railway. All three railways are still fully operational."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1A - Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway - DHR, was bulit between 1880-86. Thanks to Siddhart of India.

Postcard 1B - Darjeeling Mountain Railway

Darjeeling Mountain Railway mailed supposedly by sea on Nov 27, 2019 but arrived in Penang island on December 16, 2019 - perhaps by airmail. Thanks to Biju of Kerala, India.

Postcard 1C - Darjeeling Himalayan Railway
Darjeeling Himalayan Railway. Received May 3, 2024. Thanks to Deepak of India.

Postcard 2 - Kalka Shimla Railway

Kalka Shimla Railway. Thanks to Bhat of India.

Postcard 3A - Nilgiri Mountain Railway

Nilgiri Mountain Railway of India at Ooty. Thanks to Claus.

Postcard 3B - Lovedale Railway Station, Nilgiri Mountain Railway
The Lovedale railway station of Nilgiri Mountain Railways, Tamil Nadu. A UNESCO World Heritage. Thanks to Depak of India.

Luxembourg - City of Luxembourg: its Old Quarters and Fortifications

"Because of its strategic position, Luxembourg was, from the 16th century until 1867, when its walls were dismantled, one of Europe's greatest fortified sites. It was repeatedly reinforced as it passed from one great European power to another: the Holy Roman Emperors, the House of Burgundy, the Habsburgs, the French and Spanish kings, and finally the Prussians. Until their partial demolition, the fortifications were a fine example of military architecture spanning several centuries." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Nice view of the Luxembourg city and the ramparts. Different stamps used too.






Postcard 2
Beautiful postcard of the Palace of Luxembourg. Thanks to Cliffe of Luxembourg.






Postcard 3
A nice mult-view postcard of Luxembourg. Thanks to Patti for this card of her country - LUX.





Postcard 4
The fortification of Casemates is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Luxembourg. Mailed with a Luxembourg Postcrossing stamp. Thanks to Simone of Luxembourg.

France - Te Henua Enata – The Marquesas Islands

"Located in the South Pacific Ocean, this mixed serial property bears an exceptional testimony to the territorial occupation of the Marquesas archipelago by a human civilisation that arrived by sea around the year 1000 CE and developed on these isolated islands between the 10th and the 19th centuries. It is also a hotspot of biodiversity that combines irreplaceable and exceptionally well conserved marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Marked by sharp ridges, impressive peaks and cliffs rising abruptly above the ocean, the landscapes of the archipelago are unparalleled in these tropical latitudes. The archipelago is a major centre of endemism, home to rare and diverse flora, a diversity of emblematic marine species, and one of the most diverse seabird assemblages in the South Pacific. Virtually free from human exploitation, Marquesan waters are among the world’s last marine wilderness areas. The property also includes archaeological sites ranging from monumental dry-stone structures to lithic sculptures and engravings."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Site

Multi-view of Nuku Hiva, Archipel des Marquises, French Polynesia. Thanks to Nadia of France.

Germany - ShUM Sites of Speyer, Worms and Mainz

"Located in the former Imperial cathedral cities of Speyer, Worms and Mainz, in the Upper Rhine Valley, the serial site of Speyer, Worms and Mainz comprise the Speyer Jewry-Court, with the structures of the synagogue and women’s shul (Yiddish for synagogue), the archaeological vestiges of the yeshiva (religious school), the courtyard and the still intact underground mikveh (ritual bath), which has retained its high architectural and building quality. The property also comprises the Worms Synagogue Compound, with its in situ post-war reconstruction of the 12th century synagogue and 13th century women’s shul, the community hall (Rashi House), and the monumental 12th-century mikveh. The series also includes the Old Jewish Cemetery in Worms and the Old Jewish Cemetery in Mainz. The four component sites tangibly reflect the early emergence of distinctive Ashkenaz customs and the development and settlement pattern of the ShUM communities, particularly between the 11th and the 14th centuries. The buildings that constitute the property served as prototypes for later Jewish community and religious buildings as well as cemeteries in Europe. The acronym ShUM stands for the Hebrew initials of Speyer, Worms and Mainz."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1 - Speyer
ShUM site of Speyer. I visited Speyer, Germany and bought this postcard showing the Ritual Bath and remaining wall of the Synagoque at the Speyer Jewish museum in May 2015.

Postcard 2 - Worms
Postcard of Worms, Germany showing newly inscribed UNESCO World Heritage of ShUM. Thanks Svenja of Germany. Postmarked August 9, 2021 and arrived on September 13, 2021.

Postcard 3 - Mainz
The Jewish Cemetry in Mainz is part of Germany UNESCO World Heritage of ShUM Sites of Speyer, Worms and Mainz. ShUM is a traditional Hebrew acronym for the league of prominent qehillot of Ashkenazi Jews in Speyer, Worms and Mainz, made up from the initial letters of their Hebrew city names. Thanks to Dustin of Germany.

Postcard 4 - Speyer, Worms and Mainz
Jewish cemetries of Speyer, Worms and Mainz in Germany - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Thanks to Achim of Germany.

Postcard 5- Mainz
Jewish sites of Mainz, Germany - a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Nice postcard with matching SchUM stamp. Thanks to Dustin of Germany.

Germany - Jewish-Medieval Heritage of Erfurt

"Located in the medieval historic centre of Erfurt, the capital city of Thuringia, the property comprises three monuments: the Old Synagogue, the Mikveh, and the Stone House. They illustrate the life of the local Jewish community and its coexistence with a Christian majority in Central Europe during the Middle Ages, between the end of the 11th and the mid-14th century."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Erfurt Mikveh is a Jewish ritual bath of medieval origin in the old town of Erfurt, Germany. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Thanks to Marcel of Germany for resending a replacement postcard as the first postcard never arrived. Appreciate it.