Heraion of Samos | Greece

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Samos is a Greek island in the eastern Aegean Sea, close to the Turkish coast. The island's population is 33,000, which makes it the 9th most populous of the Greek islands.

The ruins of the temple of Hera is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple was a large sanctuary to the goddess Hera, constructed in the 6th century B.C.

Le Bois du Cazier, Marcinelle | Belgium

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The Bois du Cazier was a coal mine in Marcinelle, Belgium. It was the scene of a mining disaster in 1956, when 263 men lost their lives. 

Bois du Cazier is one of the four mines that form the UNESCO world Heritage site of “Major Mining Sites of Wallonia”. 

Bochnia Salt Mine | Poland

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The Bochnia Salt Mine is one of the oldest salt mines in the world and the oldest one in Poland. Operating continuously for 750 years until closure short after World War I.

St. Kinga’s Chapel is one of the largest and best preserved chapels in the mine. The chapel was established in 1747 and is located at a depth of 212 m. 

The old mining town Banská Štiavnica | Slovakia

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Banská Štiavnica is the oldest mining town in Slovakia. Large scale mining started in Banska Stiavnica in the 12th century, profiting from its location in the middle of an immense caldera created by the collapse of an ancient volcano. From the 15th century on the silver mined here brought great wealth. 

The Historic Town of Banská Štiavnica and the Technical Monuments in its Vicinity is a UNESCO World Heritage site. 

Cesis Castle | Latvia

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Cesis is a medieval town in Latvia. The Cēsis Castle dates back 800 years. German crusaders known as the Livonian Brothers of the Sword (Livonian Knights) started construction of the castle in 1206. During the Great Northern War in 1703 the castle was demolished by Russian army but has never been restored.

 

The city of Cesis was a member of the Hanseatic League.

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Europa stamp 2015, Old Toys.

A postcard from The Comoros

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The Comoros archipelago is made up of four islands: Anjouan, Grande Comore, Mohéli and Mayotte. The latter is still under French control.

The islands are a tropical paradise, but somehow doesn’t attract many tourists. Maybe it has something to do with the island’s political turmoil in the past: at least 20 coup d’états since gaining independence from the French in 1975. Or with volcanic activities. The Comoros has the most active volcanoes in the world. These volcanoes are located in the largest of the islands: Grande Comore.

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The stamp on the left is part of a set of 6 stamps about Medicinal Plants, issued in 2007. The orchid stamp is part of a set of 4 stamps issued in 2003. 

Preah Vihear Temple | Cambodia

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Preah Vihear is an ancient temple atop a 525-metre cliff in the Dângrêk Mountains in Cambodia. The temple was once called Sri Sikharisvara, meaning "Glorious Lord of the Mountain", a dedication to the Hindu god Shiva.

In 1962, following a lengthy dispute between Thailand and Cambodia over ownership, the International Court of Justice in The Hague (Netherlands) ruled that the temple is in Cambodia.

In 2008 Preah Vihear was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage sites.

Litomyšl Castle | Czech Republic

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The Litomyšl castle in Czech Republic is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The castle (or chateau) dates back to the 16th century.  

 

According to whc.unesco.org “ the castle is an outstanding and immaculately preserved example of the arcade castle, a type of building first developed in Italy and modified in the Czech lands to create an evolved form of special architectural quality.”

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Europa 2013 stamp “The Postman’s Van”. 

Chalk cliffs at Jasmund National Park | Germany

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Jasmund National Park is located in the northeast of Rügen, Germany’s largest island in the Baltic sea. Its most spectacular feature is without doubt the Königsstuhl (Kings chair) chalk cliffs, rising up 170 metres from the sea.

The beech forest in the park is part of UNESCO World Heritage site Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and the Ancient Beech Forests of Germany.

 

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A matching stamp!

Dazu Rock Carvings | China

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The Dazu Rock Carvings are a series of Chinese religious sculptures and carvings, dating back as far as the 9th century. These carvings can be found in 76 places in Dazu County with a total of 60,000 stone statues.

Te Waipounamu | New Zealand

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Te Waipounamu is the official Māori name for New Zealand's South Island, meaning "the place of greenstone". Named after the (green) Jade-like stones that can be found in this part of the world.

Te Waipounamu is on the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The site incorporates four national parks: Mount Cook, Fiordland, Mount Aspiring and Westland. Milford sound is a fjord is Fiordland National Park. Its highest peak is Mitre Peak with 1,695 metres.  

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Mount Taranaki is an active stratovolcano on the west coast of New Zealand's North Island. The stamp is part of a set of 5 definitives, issued 2014. 

70 Years since atomic bomb on Nagasaki | Japan

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Japan is the only nation in the world who suffered a nuclear attack. Three days after the bombing of Hiroshima another atomic bomb devastated Nagasaki, killing more than 70,000 people. This happened August 9, 1945. Today 70 years ago.

The card shows Urakami Cathedral in Nagasaki. Construction of the original Urakami Cathedral, started in 1895, after a long-standing ban in Japan on Christianity. The cathedral was in a 500m range of the atomic bomb and completely destroyed. The cathedral was rebuilt in 1959 on the original site.  

Chocolate Hills on Bohol Island | Philippines

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Bohol is the tenth largest island in the Philippines. In the middle of this island you can find a very unusual landscap: the Chocolate Hills. The origins of these 1,500 hills are not clear.

In the dry season of each year, the vegetation on the hills gives the landscape a brown colored view, hence the name "Chocolate Hills".

Traphont Ddŵr Pontcysyllte | United Kingdom

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Traphont Ddŵr Pontcysyllte is Welsh for the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. With a length of 18 kilometres and height of 30 metres, the longest and highest aqueduct in Britain. Over 200 years old, engineering at its best! The aquaduct is a World Heritage Site.