KAZAKHSTAN

MONACO

GERMANY

A nice UNESCO cover from Germany, depicting a set of 2 stamps issued in 2007. The stamp on the left shows the House of Blackheads in Riga, Latvia and the stamps on the right the City Hall of Stralsund, Germany. The Historic Centre of Riga is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1997. Riga, founded in 1201, was a major Hanseatic city from the 13th to the 15th centuries. Not many houses remain from that period, as they were destroyed by fire or war. Later, Riga saw a rapid expansion in the 19th and early 20th century, when many Art Nouveau buildings were constructed. Riga has the highest concentration of buildings in this style in Europe. The Historic Centers of Stralsund and Wismar are also inscribed as UNESCO world hertitage sites since 2002. Like Riga, the two towns were major Hanseatic League trading centres in the 14th and 15th centuries. They then served as defensive and administrative centres for Sweden two hundred years later, notably during the Thirty Years' War. The architectural styles from both of these periods remain and are well-preserved.

SWITZERLAND

A nice UNESCO cover from Switzerland, celebrating the Old City of Berne, inscribed at Unesco World Heritage Centre since 1983. Berne was founded in the 12th century on a hill site surrounded by the Aare River from three sides. Over centuries, the city developed following an exceptionally coherent planning concept, thus retaining its original character. The medieval city saw the introduction of water fountains in the 16th century and the renovation and rebuilding of older buildings in the 18th century.

SWITZERLAND

A nice UNESCO cover from Switzerland with 4 stamps celebrating the "Lavaux, Vineyard Terraces", inscribed as a World Heritage site since 2007. Lavaux is a region in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland, in the district of Lavaux-Oron. Lavaux consist of 830 hectares of terraced vineyards that stretch for about 30 km along the south-facing northern shores of Lake Léman. Although there is some evidence that vines were grown in the area in Roman times, the actual vine terraces can be traced back to the 11th century, when Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries controlled the area. It benefits from a temperate climate, but the southern aspect of the terraces with the reflection of the sun in the lake and the stone walls gives a mediterranean character to the region. The main wine grape variety grown here is the Chasselas. Under cantonal law, the vineyards of Lavaux are protected from development. Since July 2007, Lavaux is a UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

SWITZERLAND

A nice UNESCO cover from Switzerland, depicting a complete 3 stamps celebrating the "Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch", declared a world heritage site in 2001. This site encompasses one of the highest and most glaciated areas of the Alps, with peaks such as Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. It provides a geomorphological record of the processes that shaped the High Alps, as well as a diverse habitat for animals and plants, developing in a succession following the retreat of the glaciers. The landscape has played an important role in the development of mountaineering and alpine tourism, as well as in literature and in arts. Originally listed in 2001, the boundaries of the site were expanded in 2007.

NETHERLANDS

A nice FAUNA cover from The Netherlands, depicting 3 Birds stamps and including EUROPA 2019 set on motive "National Birds"

SWITZERLAND

A nice UNESCO cover from Switzerland, depicting a complete set issued in 2006 celebrating the "Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch", declared a world heritage site in 2001. This site encompasses one of the highest and most glaciated areas of the Alps, with peaks such as Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau. It provides a geomorphological record of the processes that shaped the High Alps, as well as a diverse habitat for animals and plants, developing in a succession following the retreat of the glaciers. The landscape has played an important role in the development of mountaineering and alpine tourism, as well as in literature and in arts. Originally listed in 2001, the boundaries of the site were expanded in 2007.

GERMANY

This UNESCO cover from Germany celebrates the Monastic island of Reichenau in Lake Konstanz (Bodensee), declared a world heritage site in 2000. The site includes traces of the Benedictine monastery, founded in 724, which exercised remarkable spiritual, intellectual and artistic influence throughout the surrounding region. The churches of St Mary and Marcus, St Peter and St Paul, and St George, were mainly built between the 9th and 11th centuries. Their wall paintings and decorations show an impressive artistic activity.

SWITZERLAND

This UNESCO cover from Switzerland celebrates the Swiss Tectonic Arena Sardona, inscribed as a natural UNESCO site since 2008. The Glarus Alps feature a major thrust fault, a geological phenomenon where older rocks are carried onto younger layers in the process of mountain building. As this area is well accessible, it has played an important role in the studies of tectonic processes and geological sciences since the 18th century. https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/node/1156

SWITZERLAND

A nice UNESCO cover from Switzerland, celebrating the Old City of Berne, inscribed at Unesco World Heritage Centre since 1983. Berne was founded in the 12th century on a hill site surrounded by the Aare River from three sides. Over centuries, the city developed following an exceptionally coherent planning concept, thus retaining its original character. The medieval city saw the introduction of water fountains in the 16th century and the renovation and rebuilding of older buildings in the 18th century. http://www.whes.ch/en/world-heritage/old-city-bern/?oid=1874&lang=en

GERMANY

This UNESCO cover from Germany celebrates 1000 years of St. Michaels Church in Hildesheim, inscribed at UNESCO World Heritage since 1985. The site consists of two churches in Hildesheim. The Ottonian romanesque St Michael's Church was built between 1010 and 1020. Inside it is decorated with a notable wooden ceiling, painted stucco-work, and the Bernward Column. The treasures of the Romanesque Hildesheim Cathedral contain the Bernward Doors, the Hezilo chandelier, the Azelin chandelier and other treasures. https://www.niedersachsen-tourism.com/experiences/culture-in-lower-saxony/unesco-world-heritage/st-michaeliskirche-st-michaels-church