The Kazan Kremlin

Kazan is the name of the capital of Tatarstan in Russia. Its Kremlin was built by Ivan the Terrible on the ruins of an earlier stone fortress.  It is now on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list as being the only surviving Tatar fortress with some evidence of the original town structure.

The nations Russian and Tatar cultures have developed together and can be seen as a place where east meets west, and where Christians and Muslims live together peacefully.

Suomenlinna

Now  popular picnic place, a community, a cultural centre, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, but once Suomenlinna was a sea fortress built as protection against Peter the Great of Russia.  At that time Finland was part of the Swedish kingdom and the fortress was called Sveaborg.  It was renamed Suomenlinna, Castle of Finland, in

I have completely lost my rhythm of posting this week.  this should have been posted on Tuesday, for Our Wonderful World Tuesday.  Instead I'm hastily scheduling it in for last Wednesday, on Friday.

United Arab Emirates

This is another of my bric-a-brac shop finds.  There is a postmark on the back of the card from Dubai, dated 1995 but I see another on the front from Gatwick.  I'm not sure why that should have happened.  There is another on the back, over the stamp. 

The picture at the top on the left is Fujaira Fort built of mud bricks, recently renovated and restored.  Pictures I've found on the internet do look as though the renovation took place after this picture was produced.

I'd say that a lot has changed on Jumaira Beach too, unless this is either different from Jumeirah Beach or a section away from the modern developments.  I would have thought they would have been started by 1995.  Maybe it's an old card.

Fougères

The fortified castle at Fougères is certainly the most important in France and some say it is the largest medieval fortress in Europe.  The site is protected by a natural moat, a tributary of the river Couesnon.  It was first built in the 11th century, destroyed by Henry II of England (Henry Plantagenet and father of Richard the Lionheart), then rebuilt in 1173.

This is definitely going on my list of places to see.

Portchester (Porchester) Castle

For me one of the most interesting things about this card is the way they spelled the name of the castle.  You'd normally spell it Portchester but it's not a casual mistake - it's the same on the reverse too.  It's not far from Portsmouth, on the northern shore of the harbour, so you'd think that it would be similar.  In fact the spelling has varied over the years from Portus Adurni by the Romans, through Portcestre after a Saxon warrior, Port.  It wasn't until the late 19th century that the modern spelling was officially adopted.  There is still a sign inside with the Porchester spelling.

It's a Roman fortification, probably dating from the 3rd century BC.  Of course it was added to and extended at various times.  The Saxons used it and the Normans added the castle to the fort.  Then it was used as a prison after 1665, and the again during the Napoleonic Wars when over 7000 French prisoners were kept there.

These days it is run by English Heritage.  It is rumoured to be haunted....

Shlisselberg Fortress

The originally wooden fortress at Shlisselburg was built in the mouth of the Neva river in 1323 though there was another fortification there before it.  At the time it was called Oreshek, after the island it stands on.  Oroshek means nut, the island being nut shaped.

In 1352 it was rebuilt in stone.  It was taken by Sweden in 1611 during the Ingrian War.  During the great Northern War it was recaptured by Russia and renamed Shlisselburg, from the German meaning key fortress.  Peter the Great considered it to be the key to Ingria (a historical Baltic region).

There's a whole area of history there that I know little about.  At least I've heard of Peter the Great.

Kalemegdan

Despot Stefan Tower is part of Kalemegdan in Belgrade, Serbia.  Kalemegdan is the oldest part of Belgrade and for hundreds of years it is where the entire population lived.  The name Belgrade (or Beograd) means white town or white fortress in most Slavic languages. 
Kalemegdan translates, from Turkish, as Fortress Square.

Although the tower was built at the beginning of the 15the century, the fortress dates from the 3rd century and has survived almost 2000 years of battles.

The card has suffered some damage on its way to me, probably because it's much larger than average.  I still love it. :)

Koules, a Venetian fortress in Crete

A Venetian fortress guards the entrance to the harbour of Heraklion, on the Greek island of Crete.  It was known as Rocca al Mare by the Venetians but after the Venetians came the Ottamans who renamed it Koules.  It was built during the 13th century on a rocky foundation formed by filling old ships with stones from a nearby island, and sinking them in position.

This card was sent to my father in 1983, buy a merchant seaman.  He reported that they were loading grapes in Crete, then bound for Rotterdam and Hamburg.

Špilberk or Spielberg Castle

It looks forbidding because it is forbidding.  It's on a very steep hill and towers immediately of the historic centre of the city of Brno.  It's a prison but this time it isn't an island.  It has been in existence for over 700 years, first as a palace, then a fortress and then a prison.  Finally it became a barracks and now it is the City Museum in Brno, in the Czech Republic.

Even as a fortress, it did contain a prison, and from the 17th to 18th centuries it contained high-ranking military prisoners.  In 1783 it became a civil prison, then later it held political prisoners and state prisoners.  It wasn't until 1855 that it became barracks.  However on two further occasions it held prisoners, during the two world wars.  No wonder it appears to have such a forbidding appearance.

Bunratty Castle, a towered fortress

Bunratty Castle
All over Ireland there are impressive reminders of a long and robust history - pre-historic forts, strongholds, mediaeval castles, picturesque abbeys and monasteries.  Bunratty, ten miles from Limerick city is one of the largest of the towered fortresses of Ireland.  It was built by the O'Briens of Thomond in the 15th century.  It has been completely restored, and furnished in the style of the period, so that it is one of the most interesting examples of mediaeval times to be found today.

The castle has had a turbulent past, or rather the castles that existed on the site before the present one.  The first fortress was built in 1270 and later rebuilt in stone.  Then in 1318 and again 1382 it was completely destroyed.  In 1353 it was rebuilt, with final alterations in 1425.

The castle ground now contains Bunratty Folk Park which is a village recreated in the style of the 19th century.  The Walled Garden is modelled on the garden which used to serve the nearby Bunratty House.  While the garden is Regency period, the house has been restored in a Victorian style.

The French Alcatraz

If I asked what Alcatraz and the Château d'If had in common (and if you couldn't see the illustration) you might not know.  If I then added in Robben Island, more recently in the news in connection with Nelson Mandela, you now could make a very good guess.  They are all islands and have all been prisons.

The Château d'If was built on one of the four islands off Marseille, in the Mediterranean Sea.  It was built by François I between  1527 and 1529 to control Provence.  The fortress covers the island completely.  There are no trees, no animals apart from birds.

It became a prison in 1540 when two fishermen from Marseille were incarcerated.  Political and religious prisoners were left there, in effect to rot.  The poorest, who couldn't afford one of the better cells, had a life expectancy of nine months.  No one ever escaped.

Its greatest fame, though, is entirely fictional.  It features in the novel, The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas.  In it, the Count makes an escape after 14 years, although in reality there have been no successful escapes.  Mainly because of the fictional connection, the Château has become a popular tourist destination.

The card has never been through the mail, nor written.  It doesn't show up on the picture, but it has a perforated edge so it has been one of a book of postcards. The only printing on it is CARTE POSTALE.  It does have a divided back so it dates from after 1909.

Luxembourg

Postmarked Luxembourg, dated 9 February 2009.

Top row L to R
1. Rocher du Bock
2. Casemates
3 Tour espagnole
Bottom row L to R
4. Les 3 Tours
5. Circuit Vauban/Porte des Bons Malades

The fortress, the fortifications and its surroundings, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  I must admit that I had no idea quite how many of these sites three were in the world, until looking more closely at my postcards.  So many wonderful places to add to my must visit list. Even if funds were available, life span limitations must mean that I haven't any chance of seeing even the majority.  that would be a sad thought, if it weren't for the pleasure of my postcards.

This is the first card I have received from Luxembourg so I am especially delighted.

A week of castles: Day 6 - Warkworth Castle, UK

An unused vintage postcard with no indication of age.

Warkworth Castle is in the north-east of England, a magnificent and well preserved fortress, although ruined.  There is much more to it than is shown on this card.  It is thought to have been built around 1070 as a wooden fortress, later rebuilt in sandstone, and later still a keep was added.  It is maintained by English Heritage.

There are some beautiful photographs of it on North of the Tyne.

A week of castles: Day 2 - Rumeli Hisari, Turkey

Postmarked Taksim and dated 4 August 1983.

Rumeli Hisari on the European shore of the Bosphorus (1452)
Istanbul Turkey.

The fortress was built in 1452 by Sultan Mehmed II before he conquerered Constantinople.  It was designed to control the passage of ships through the straits but eventually lost its importance when another was built further up near the Black Sea.  It became a prison for a time but it was abandoned in the 19th century.  It then became a residential area inside the walls until the inhabitants were relocated to allow for restoration.

The message reads "Had an exciting night near Thessalonica when a hurricane suddenly struck - the worst in 150 years they said."

Tower of London

Neither posted nor dated.

The Tower of London and Tower Bridge
The Tower of London dates back to William the Conqueror in the 11th century and in its time has been a fortress, royal residence and state prison. In the background Tower bridge spans the River Thames as it flows eastwards to the sea. PLO/22144

The Tower is one of the "must sees" in London. When we had young exchange students staying with us I took all of them up to London, and the Tower was always one of the attractions. Once inside, you can visit the various parts at will. The Yeoman Warders, or Beefeaters, are very knowledgeable and will take you on a conducted tour. They are all servicemen of at least 22 years standing.

Tower Bridge is also open to the public. The walkways provide a stunning view of the river and many famous sights in London from 42 metres above the river.

Bunratty Castle

Postmarked Baile Atha Cliath (Dublin), dated 1981.

Bunratty Castle, Co Clare: Situated between Shannon Airport and Limerick, 10 miles from the latter, Bunratty Castle is the largest and finest example of the medieval towered fortresses of Ireland. Built in the 15th century by the O'Briens of Thomond, descendents of the great king. Brian Boru, the castle has now been completely resored and furnished in the style of its period. The unique apartments of the castle, with their fine collection of medieval furniture, paintings, tapestries etc. are now open to the public.
Cardall 296