Austria, Belgium, Czechia, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom - The Great Spa Towns of Europe

"The transnational site of The Great Spa Towns of Europe comprises 11 towns, located in seven European countries: Baden bei Wien (Austria); Spa (Belgium); Františkovy Lázně (Czechia); Karlovy Vary (Czechia); Mariánské Lázně (Czechia); Vichy (France); Bad Ems (Germany); Baden-Baden (Germany); Bad Kissingen (Germany); Montecatini Terme (Italy); and City of Bath (United Kingdom). 

All of these towns developed around natural mineral water springs. They bear witness to the international European spa culture that developed from the early 18th century to the 1930s, leading to the emergence of grand international resorts that impacted urban typology around ensembles of spa buildings such as the kurhaus and kursaal (buildings and rooms dedicated to therapy), pump rooms, drinking halls, colonnades and galleries designed to harness the natural mineral water resources and to allow their practical use for bathing and drinking. Related facilities include gardens, assembly rooms, casinos, theatres, hotels and villas, as well as spa-specific support infrastructure. These ensembles are all integrated into an overall urban context that includes a carefully managed recreational and therapeutic environment in a picturesque landscape. Together, these sites embody the significant interchange of human values and developments in medicine, science and balneology."

Source: UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Postcard 1 - United Kingdom

Views of the Great Bath, the Circular Bath, the King's Bath. Card bought at Bath.

Postcard 2-1A  Germany - Baden Baden Multiview 1

Beautiful multi-view postcard of the German Spa town of Baden Baden. Thanks to YL for mailing from there.

Postcard 2-1B  Germany - Baden Baden Multiview 2

Thanks to Ing of New Zealand who visited Baden Baden. Mailed in May 2016.

Postcard 2-1C  Germany - Baden Baden Multiview 3

Postcard 2-1D  Germany - Baden Baden Multiview 4

Postcard 2-1E  Germany - Baden Baden Aerial view

Postcard 2-2 Germany - Bad Kissingen

Postcard 2-3 Germany - Bad Ems
Bad Ems was inscribed in 2021 as a UNESCO World Heritage site of the Great Spa Towns in Europe. Thanks to Marcel of Germany. Written on January 17, 2022 and received on February 15, 2022.

Postcard 3A - France - Vichy

Vichy - Opera house. Postmarked in Allier on June 23, 2010. Thanks to Jean-Pierre of France.

Postcard 3B - France - Vichy

Aerial view of the thermal spa city of Vichy, France. Nice mint postcard mailed inside envelope from France postmarked Oct 21, 2020 and received in Penang island on Nov 26, 2020. Thanks to Jean-Pierre of France.

Postcard 4 - Belgium - The Spa

The Spa. Thanks to Raquel of Belgium.

Postcard 5 - Italy - Montecatini Terme
The spa town of Montecatini Terme, Italy. Nice Italian stamp used. Thanks to Cristina of Italy.

Postcard 6 - Czechia - Mariánské Lázně
Mariánské Lázně is, in terms of area, one of the largest spa complexes in the Czech Republic. This spa town does not have a long history. It was established in the period of Classicism, early in the 19th century. Its creators changed an inhospitable valley into a charming park town with Classicist and Empire houses, gazebos, garden houses and colonnades. Thanks to Pavla of Czech Republic.

Postcard 7 - Czechia - Karlovy Vary
Multi-view of Karlovy Vary of Czech Republic (Czechia). It was inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage Site of Europe Spa Towns in 2021. Thanks to Suzanka of Czechia. Postcard was written on August 7, 2021 and received on October 27, 2021.

Postcard 8 - Austria - Baden bei Wien
Baden bei Wien of Austria is inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage site of European Spas in 2021. Thanks to Uli of Austria. Written in August 3 2021 and arrived in Penang island on September 8, 2021.

Austria - Germany - Slovakia - Frontiers of the Roman Empire – The Danube Limes (Western Segment)

"It covers almost 600km of the whole Roman Empire’s Danube frontier. The property formed part of the much large frontier of the Roman Empire that encircled the Mediterranean Sea. The Danube Limes (Western Segment) reflects the specificities of this part of the Roman Frontier through the selection of sites that represent key elements from road, legionary fortresses and their associated settlements to small forts and temporary camps, and the way these structures relate to local topography"

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Postcard 1 - Germany
Roman wall ruins of Passau, Lower Bavaria, Germany. Thanks to Anne of Passau, Germany.

Postcard 2 - Austria
Map of Roman ruins of Vindobona, Austria. It is a new UNESCO World Heritage site. Nice embroidery stamp of a mini FFP2/N95 Face Mask. Thanks so much to Uli of Austria. Postmarked August 9, 2021 WIEN and arrived in Penang on October 28, 2021.

Postcard 3 - Slovakia
Relics of Roman Castle in Gerulata, Slovaka. The ruins of Gerulata is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage in 2021. Thanks to Misino of Bratislava, Slovakia. Nice matching stamps of Gerulata used.

Albania - Austria - Belgium - Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria - Croatia - Czechia - France - Germany - Italy - North Macedonia - Poland - Romania - Serbia - Slovakia - Slovenia - Spain - Switzerland - Ukraine : Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe

"This transboundary property stretches over 12 countries. Since the end of the last Ice Age, European Beech spread from a few isolated refuge areas in the Alps, Carpathians, Dinarides, Mediterranean and Pyrenees over a short period of a few thousand years in a process that is still ongoing. The successful expansion across a whole continent is related to the tree’s adaptability and tolerance of different climatic, geographical and physical conditions.

The extension of the transnational World Heritage serial site of Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe by ten European countries adds to the outstanding universal value and integrity of the property, which now comprises 94 component parts across 18 countries. The extended property represents an outstanding example of relatively undisturbed, complex temperate forests and exhibit a wide spectrum of comprehensive ecological patterns and processes of pure and mixed stands of European beech across a variety of environmental conditions"

Source: UNESCO World Heritage

Have collected - Albania, Austria, Germany, Italy, Slovakia, Spain, Ukraine 

Missing Countries:
- Belgium (Sonian Forests)

- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia

- Czechia

- France

- North Macedonia

- Romania

- Slovenia

- Switzerland

Postcard 1 - Albania

Gashi River of Valbone, Albania. Thanks to Boris of Spain who visited Albania and mailed this postcard from Spain with additional Albania stamp.

Postcard 2 - AUSTRIA

Wildnisgebiet Durrenstein, untouched forest of endangered species in eastern Austria. Thanks to Patrik of Estonia.

Postcard 3A - GERMANY - Edersee National Park

Aerial view of the Edersee - old beech forests. Thanks to Marcel of Germany.

Postcard 3B - GERMANY - Jasmund National Park

Jasmund National Park, Rugen Island, Germany. Thanks to Corinna of Germanay.

Postcard 4A - Italy

Foresta Umbra is the Italian site for this European transboundary UNESCO World Heritage of Primeval Beech Forests. Thanks to Irene of Genoa, Italy.

Postcard 4B - Italy

Another different view of Foresta Umbra. Thanks again to Irene of Genoa, Italy.

Postcard 5A - SLOVAKIA - UKRAINE

Primeval Beech Forests of Slovakia and Ukraine. Thanks to Inigo of Spain.

Postcard 5B - SLOVAKIA

'Karpatske Bukove Lesy - Primevel Beech Forests of Caparthians. Thanks to Lubo of Slovakia.

Postcard 6 - SPAIN - Posada De Valdeon Leon

Beech forests of Posada de Valdeon, Leon, Spain. Thanks to Javier of Spain.

Postcard 7 - UKRAINE - Primeval Beech Forest
The Carpathian mountain forests of Ukraine. Thanks to Galyna of Ukraine.

Postcard 8 - POLAND - Wetlina Beech Forest
Wetlina, Poland has the ancient beech forest that is insribed as UNESCO World Heritage. Thanks to Bodexs of Poland. Arrived in Penang on October 28, 2021.