built to last

from Slovakia, St Elizabeth Cathedral, the largest church in Slovakia.  Originally built in the 11th C, it was consecrated to St Elizabeth of Hungary around 1240.  As might be expected for a building so old, and so important, it has undergone numerous reconstruction phases which wikipedia outlines here

from Thailand, Wat Chaiwatthanaram, the Temple of Long Reign and Glorious Era,  It was constructed in 1630 by the king Prasat Thong.  The central 35 metre prang (spire) symbolizes the mountain Meru believed to be the core of the universe.

from Norway, an old wooden church known as a stave church.  Fewer than 30 of these medieval churches survive, and all are in Norway.

ranges

 

The Tatra National Park showing the High Tatras along the border of Slovakia and Poland.

and a few hours to the west, we come to the Emmental mountains in the western Alps.

 

Both of these ranges are relatively low in elevation with the Tatras slightly beating out the Emmental with a highest peak of 2,655 m to 2,350 m.

For Sunday Stamps - mountains

Sunday Stamps II - 68

September 2003, Slovakia "Small Cold Valley" view to the High Tatras
designer and engraver: Martin Cinovsky

The High Tatras form a natural border between Slovakia and Poland with the majority of the range and the highest peaks in Slovakia. There are 29 peaks reaching higher than 2,500 metres (8,200 feet) and 35 valleys containing 110 lakes. It's the only part of the Carpathian mountain range that has an alpine character and is one of the more important tourist sites in the country as a popular spot for winter sports and trekking.

for mountains

Sunday Stamps II - 60

2003, Slovakia,  Biennial of Illustration Bratislava

The Biennial of Illustrations Bratislava (BIB) is an international competitive exhibition of illustrations for children's books.  Jana Kiselová-Siteková 'creates ethereal and fragile illustrations using fine colours, unusual techniques and microdrawings'. This stamps shows Hans Christian Anderson's Thumbelina (Palculienka in Slovak) which won a Golden Apple award for the BIB in 2001.

for illustrations