Czech Republic - Historic Centre of Prague

"Built between the 11th and 18th centuries, the Old Town, the Lesser Town and the New Town speak of the great architectural and cultural influence enjoyed by this city since the Middle Ages. The many magnificent monuments, such as Hradcani Castle, St Vitus Cathedral, Charles Bridge and numerous churches and palaces, built mostly in the 14th century under the Holy Roman Emperor, Charles IV." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
St. Vitus Cathedral, Prague. I visited this amazing cathedral and cancelled this postcard in the post office located opposite the cathedral during my visit in May, 2015.

Postcard 2

I really like this picturesque postcard of Praque (Praha), the capital of Czech Republic (Ceska Republika). I used to collect many Czechoslavakia stamps. Now these are two independent countries - Czech Republic and Slovakia. Thanks very much to Adela for sending this nice card.






Postcard 3
Prague has become a major tourist destination. Nice multiview postcard - thanks to Mark of Malta.

Postcard 4

Old Town Square of Praha with Tyn Church. Thanks to Vladimir of Praque.

Postcard 5 

Charles Bridge and Prague Castle. Thanks to Ing of New Zealand. Sent in May, 2016.

Postcard 6

Old Town Square of Prague. Thanks to Eliska of Prague, Czech Republic.

Postcard 7

I walked on Charles Bridge a few times when I visited Prague. Thanks to Mila for mailing this postcard from Czechia in 2017.

Postcard 8

Old Town Astronomical Clock at Praha with Postcrossing stamp used. Thanks to Alzbeta of Praque, Czechia.

Sri Lanka - Ancient City of Sigiriya

"The ruins of the capital built by the parricidal King Kassapa I (477–95) lie on the steep slopes and at the summit of a granite peak standing some 370 m high (the 'Lion's Rock', which dominates the jungle from all sides). A series of galleries and staircases emerging from the mouth of a gigantic lion constructed of bricks and plaster provide access to the site." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Lion's Paw Sigiriya Rock, Sri Lanka. Thanks to Ravindra of Sri Lanka.

Postcard 2 - Frescos 

The "Sigiriya Frescoes" (5th century) of this Rock formation is world famous for the ruins of Sigiriya. 3 beautiful stamps used. Thanks to Ravindra of Sri Lanka.

Postcard 3

View of Sigiriya Rock, Sri Lankda. Thanks to Supane of Sri Lanka.

Postcard 4

Aerial view Sigiriya Rock, Sri Lanka. Thanks to Ravi of Sri Lanka. Nice stamp of World Post Day 2017 used.

Switzerland - Old City of Berne

"Founded in the 12th century on a hill site surrounded by the Aare River, Berne developed over the centuries in line with a an exceptionally coherent planning concept. The buildings in the Old City, dating from a variety of periods, include 15th-century arcades and 16th-century fountains. Most of the medieval town was restored in the 18th century but it has retained its original character." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Aerial view of Berne city along Aare River. Nice Swiss stamps used. Thanks to Eduard of Berne, Switzerland.

Postcard 2

BAerial view of Berne by Joanna - mailed from Switzerland. There is no postal cancellation.

China - Summer Palace, an Imperial Garden in Beijing

"The Summer Palace in Beijing – first built in 1750, largely destroyed in the war of 1860 and restored on its original foundations in 1886 – is a masterpiece of Chinese landscape garden design. The natural landscape of hills and open water is combined with artificial features such as pavilions, halls, palaces, temples and bridges to form a harmonious ensemble of outstanding aesthetic value." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
View of Suzhou Street in the Summer Palace. Empress Dowager Cixi built a simulated Hangzhou Lake and Suzhou style section for this Imperial Garden. Thanks to Zhu of China.







Postcard 2
I have been to the Summer Palace in Beijing twice. It is large lakeside garden in the heart of Beijing. The Old Summer Palace was burnt down by British and Fench garrisons and was never rebuilt. This new Summer Palace was burnt later too but rebuilt.




Postcard 3




Postcard 4
Garden of Harmonious Interests in the Summer Palace.

Postcard 5

Summer Palace 17 arch bridge. Thanks to Wang of Beijing, China.

Postcard 6

Bronze Ox and Seventeen Arch Bridge of Summer Palace, Beijing. Mailed from USA by Steve.

 

Saint Kitts and Nevis - Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park

"Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park is an outstanding, well-preserved example of 17th- and 18th-century military architecture in a Caribbean context. Designed by the British and built by African slave labour, the fortress is testimony to European colonial expansion, the African slave trade and the emergence of new societies in the Caribbean." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
The Parade Level from the Citadel at Brimstone Hill, St. Kitts. Nice fruit stamps of guava and passion fruit used. Thanks to Jean-Pierre of France.

Postcard 2

Brimstone Hill in St. Kitts island and is the "Gibraltar of the West Indies". Two nice St. Kitts stamps used including a Brimstone Fort stamp. Nevis issues its own stamps too. Thanks to Jean-Pierre of France who was visiting on March 25, 2013. Arrived in Penang island on April 12, 2013.






Postcard 3
A nice multi-view of Brimstone Hill Fortress in Saint Kitts. Thanks to Jean-Pierre of France.

Postcard 4

Citadel entrance of Brimstone Hill Fortress. Thanks to Gloria of USA who visited this fortress in Saint Kitts.

China - Fujian Tulou

"Fujian Tulou is a property of 46 buildings constructed between the 15th and 20th centuries over 120 km in south-west of Fujian province, inland from the Taiwan Strait. Set amongst rice, tea and tobacco fields the Tulou are earthen houses. Several storeys high, they are built along an inward-looking, circular or square floor plan as housing for up to 800 people each. They were built for defence purposes around a central open courtyard with only one entrance and windows to the outside only above the first floor. Housing a whole clan, the houses functioned as village units and were known as “a little kingdom for the family” or “bustling small city.” They feature tall fortified mud walls capped by tiled roofs with wide over-hanging eaves. The most elaborate structures date back to the 17th and 18th centuries. The buildings were divided vertically between families with each disposing of two or three rooms on each floor. In contrast with their plain exterior, the inside of the tulou were built for comfort and were often highly decorated. They are inscribed as exceptional examples of a building tradition and function exemplifying a particular type of communal living and defensive organization, and, in terms of their harmonious relationship with their environment, an outstanding example of human settlement." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1 - Chuxi Tulou
From left to right: Yuqing Lou, Gengqing Lou, Jiqing Lou.

Kejia or Hakka traditional circular "fortress-like" dwellings. Were thought by Americans as missile silos during the satelite surveillance during the Cold War period. Matching prepaid stamp. Mailed from Guangzhou by Deng. Thank you (xie xie) for this postcard (ming xing pian).

Postcard 2

One of the Fujian tulou. Thanks to Phoebe of Hong Kong.

Mexico - Historic Centre of Puebla

"Puebla, which was founded ex nihilo in 1531, is situated about 100 km east of Mexico City, at the foot of the Popocatepetl volcano. It has preserved its great religious structures such as the 16th–17th-century cathedral and fine buildings like the old archbishop's palace, as well as a host of houses with walls covered in tiles (azulejos). The new aesthetic concepts resulting from the fusion of European and American styles were adopted locally and are peculiar to the Baroque district of Puebla." 

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1
Aerial view of Puebla Cathedral. Thanks to David of USA.

Postcard 2

Multi-view of Puebla with buildings with walls covered in tiles (azulejas). Thanks to Marco of Austria for mailing from Mexico. It was postmarked on March 14, 2018 and arrived in Penang island on April 20, 2018.