Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum

The Sleeping Lady is now in the National Museum of Archaeology in Valleta but it was in the Hypogeum of Ħal-Saflieni that it was found

Hypogeum and The Sleeping Lady

This postcard was sent by Martinha who recently visited Malta

The Ħal Saflieni Hypogeum (underground cemetery) was discovered in 1902 on a hill overlooking the innermost part of the Grand Harbour of Valletta, in the town of Paola. It is a unique prehistoric monument, which seems to have been conceived as an underground cemetery, originally containing the remains of about 7,000 individuals. The cemetery was in use throughout the Żebbuġ, Ġgantija and Tarxien Phases of Maltese Prehistory, spanning from around 4000 B.C. to 2500 B.C.

The Sleeping Lady

Artefacts recovered from the site include pottery vessels decorated in intricate designs, shell buttons, stone and clay beads and amulets, as well as little stone carved animals and birds that may have originally been worn as pendants. The most striking finds are stone and clay figurines depicting human figures. The most impressive of these figures is that showing a woman lying on a bed or ‘couch’, popularly known as the ‘Sleeping Lady’. This figure is a work of art in itself, demonstrating a keen eye for detail. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/130

Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun

This was my UNESCO site number 800!

Great Pit and Oscar Shaft Head

This postcard was sent by Doris

The enormous mining excavation known as the Great Pit at Falun is the most striking feature of a landscape that illustrates the activity of copper production in this region since at least the 13th century. The 17th-century planned town of Falun with its many fine historic buildings, together with the industrial and domestic remains of a number of settlements spread over a wide area of the Dalarna region, provide a vivid picture of what was for centuries one of the world's most important mining areas. - in: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1027/

Bordeaux, Port of the Moon

On our way to Portugal in 2016, my family and I stopped in Bordeaux, France. We had a great meal, I tasted the wonderful wine, I bought a couple of postcards and we did a little tour around the city. Is very beautiful but one evening is not enough to see everything properly. I hope to go there again with more time.

Bordeaux at night

This postcard was sent by João Nogueira

The Port of the Moon, port city of Bordeaux in south-west France, is inscribed as an inhabited historic city, an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble, created in the age of the Enlightenment, whose values continued up to the first half of the 20th century, with more protected buildings than any other French city except Paris. It is also recognized for its historic role as a place of exchange of cultural values over more than 2,000 years, particularly since the 12th century due to commercial links with Britain and the Low Lands. Urban plans and architectural ensembles of the early 18th century onwards place the city as an outstanding example of innovative classical and neoclassical trends and give it an exceptional urban and architectural unity and coherence. Its urban form represents the success of philosophers who wanted to make towns into melting pots of humanism, universality and culture. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1256

Pont de Pierre

The Pont de pierre, or "Stone Bridge" in English, is a bridge in Bordeaux, (in the Gironde department of France), which connects the left bank of the Garonne River (cours Victor Hugo) to the right bank quartier de la Bastide (Avenue Thiers).

First bridge over the Garonne River at Bordeaux, it was planned and designed during the First French Empire, under the orders of Napoleon I, but its construction took place during the Bourbon Restoration, from 1819 to 1822. During these three years, the builders were faced with many challenges because of the strong current at that point in the river. They used a diving bell borrowed from the British to stabilize the bridge's pillars. It has seventeen arches (number of letters in the name Napoléon Bonaparte). On the sides, each pile of bricks is capped by a white medallion in honor of the emperor. It also carries the coat of arms of the city (three intertwined crescents). It was the only bridge until the construction of pont Saint-Jean in 1965. - in: wikipedia

Tour Pey Berland

Tour Pey Berland, named for its patron Pey Berland, is located in Bordeaux at the Place Pey Berland next to Cathédrale Saint-André.

Its construction was from 1440 to 1500 at the initiative of the archbishop of the same name. Crowned a steeple, it has remained isolated from the rest of the Cathedral to protect the Cathedral from the vibrations of the bells. After the completion, the church had initially no money for the purchase of bells, therefore the tower was used for housing until 1790. After 1790, a lead factory was set up in the tower. Bells were installed after 1851 and the tower began to be used for its original purpose. - in: wikipedia

Place de la Bourse

This postcard was sent by Joana from a Postcrossing meeting

Place de la Bourse is a square in Bordeaux, France and one of the city's most recognisable sights. Built from 1730 to 1775, its architect was Ange-Jacques Gabriel.

This square is one of the most representative works of classical French architectural art of the eighteenth century. In the north stood the Palais de la Bourse (current Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Bordeaux) and in the south the Hotel des Fermes (now Interregional Directorate of Customs and Indirect Rights which houses the National Museum of Customs). This one was made by Ange-Jacques Gabriel between 1735 and 1738 and the sculptures represent Minerve protecting the arts and Mercury favoring the commerce of the city. - in: wikipedia

Bordeaux

This postcard was sent by Joana from a Postcrossing meeting

Bordeaux is the world's major wine industry capital. It is home to the world's main wine fair, Vinexpo,  and the wine economy in the metro area takes in 14.5 billion euros each year. Bordeaux wine has been produced in the region since the 8th century. The historic part of the city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as "an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble" of the 18th century. After Paris, Bordeaux has the highest number of preserved historical buildings of any city in France. - in: wikipedia

Old City of Sana'a

Sana'a is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world

Old City of Sana'a

This postcard arrived from Denmark sent by Genek

Sana'a, also spelled Sanaa or Sana, is the largest city in Yemen and the centre of Sana'a Governorate. 

The old fortified city has been inhabited for more than 2,500 years and contains many intact architectural gems. It was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations in 1986. Efforts are underway to preserve some of the oldest buildings some of which, such as the Samsarh and the Great Mosque of Sana'a, are more than 1,400 years old. Surrounded by ancient clay walls which stand 9–14 metres (30–46 ft) high, the Old City contains more than 100 mosques, 12 hammams (baths) and 6,500 houses. Many of the houses resemble ancient skyscrapers, reaching several stories high and topped with flat roofs. They are decorated with elaborate friezes and intricately carved frames and stained-glass windows. - in: wikipedia

Al-Hijr Archaeological Site (Madâin Sâlih)

The city where I live receives a lot of tourists from Saudi Arabia but unfortunately they don't bring postcards with them :D

Madâin Sâlih

This postcard arrived from Germany sent by Claus

Mada'in Saleh, also called "Al-Hijr" or "Hegra", is an archaeological site located in the Sector of Al-`Ula within Al Madinah Region, the Hejaz, Saudi Arabia. A majority of the remains date from the Nabatean kingdom (1st century AD). The site constitutes the kingdom's southernmost and largest settlement after Petra, its capital. Traces of Lihyaniteand Roman occupation before and after the Nabatean rule, respectively, can also be found. - in: wikipedia

Medieval Town of Toruń

Toruń is the birthplace of Polish the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus

Medieval Town of Toruń

Torun owes its origins to the Teutonic Order, which built a castle there in the mid-13th century as a base for the conquest and evangelization of Prussia. It soon developed a commercial role as part of the Hanseatic League. In the Old and New Town, the many imposing public and private buildings from the 14th and 15th centuries (among them the house of Copernicus) are striking evidence of Torun's importance. - in: http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/835

Old Town Market and Old Town Hall

This postcard was sent by Bozena

The Medieval Town of Toruń is composed of three parts: the Toruń Old Town in the west, Toruń New Town in the east, and the Toruń Castle in the south-east.

The Old Town is laid out around the Old Town Market Place. Major buildings and monuments there include the Old Town Hall, Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the remains of the old town wall. - in: wikipedia

Burgher's Manor

This postcard was sent by Igor

This building dates from the year 1489. It was erected for the patrician Brotherhood of Saint. George as his summer residence. The building probably used bricks from the castle of the Teutonic Knights destroyed by Toruń's burghers. In the 19th century, the manor was rebuilt, but despite this he retained his gothic character to a large extent. - in: http://visittorun.com/en/content/burghers-manor

Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey

This wonderful park was created around the ruins of the Cistercian Fountains Abbey and Fountains Hall Castle

Water Garden with the Statue of Galen and the Temple of Piety

This postcard was sent from Spain by Patricia

The water garden at Studley Royal created by John Aislabie in 1718 is one of the best surviving examples of a Georgian water garden in England. It was expanded by his son, William who purchased the adjacent Fountains Estate. The garden's elegant ornamental lakes, canals, temples and cascades provide a succession of dramatic eye-catching vistas. It is also studded with a number of follies including a neo-Gothic castle and a palladian style banqueting house. - in: wikipedia

Fountains Abbey

This postcard was sent by Adam

Fountains Abbey is one of the largest and best preserved ruined Cistercian monasteries in England. It is located approximately 3 miles (5 kilometres) south-west of Ripon in North Yorkshire, near to the village of Aldfield. Founded in 1132, the abbey operated for 407 years becoming one of the wealthiest monasteries in England until its dissolution in 1539 under the order of Henry VIII. - in: wikipedia