Empress Elisabeth (Sisi) of Austria (Edition Tausendschön)

What a glitter in my mailbox :) A beautiful card of Edition Tausendschön with even a matching stamp, showing Elisabeth, Empress of Austia, Queen of Hungary, Bohemia, Croatia and and and ... her titles are way too many to list them all.
Somehow to me, she will always be the incarnation of a dream princess, maybe because of the German TV mini series of ages past, which of course did not show the real life of Sisi, but turned everything about her and her life into a bittersweet, romantic story.
Thank you Marianne for this awesome postcard !!!

HIRM Maria Theresia, Empress of Austria (Edition Tausendschön)

I fell in love with this card on first sight and was delighted to recieve it from Marianne (ennstalerin) for the Postcrossing Favourites Tag.
Many of you may think of these kind of cards as trashy, I thought so myself at first, but now I am so in love with Edition Tausendschön and the glitter, that I cannot get enough of them.
This one shows her Imperial and Royal Majesty Maria Theresia of Austria. She was the sovereign of Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Bohemia, Transylvania, Mantua, Milan, Lodomeria and Galicia in her own right, and by marriage Holy Roman Empress. For 40 years she was one of the most powerful women history has ever seen, mother to 11 daughters and 5 sons.

Neusiedlersee Mapcard, Austria (UNESCO)

This card arrived here an official one via Postcrossing. It was sent by Cassandra and shows a mapcard of the area surrounding Lake Neusiedel. Together with the Hungarian National Park Fertö-Hanság, the Neusiedler See-Seewinkel National Park in Eastern Austria was inscribed into the UNESCO World Heritag List in 2001.

Hallstadt, Austria (UNESCO)

The small town of Hallstadt in Austria is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Hallstadt-Dachstein/ Salzkammergut Cultural Landscape.  The region is known for salt production. The world's first known saltmine is located close to the Hallstadt and can be toured.
This awesome postcard was sent by Christina for a UNESCO RR on Postcrossing.

Schönbrunn Palace, Vienna, Austria (UNESCO)

Great nightview of Schönbrunn Palace in Vienna, sent by my parents.
Schönbrunn Palace is the former residence of the Emperors of Austria. It has 1441 rooms and vast gardens. A wonderful place to visit and to get a glimpse of the imperial life in Austria.
Schönbrunn and its gardens have been inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage since 1996.

St. Stephan's Chathedral, Vienna, Austria (UNESCO)

Great view of St. Stephan's Cathedral in Vienna, Austria. Built on the remains of two earlier churches dating back to 1147, the current Romanesque and Gothic looks goes back to Duke Rudolf IV (1339-1365). It is the seat of the Archbishop of Vienna and part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Historic Center of Vienna.
Also interesting to see is the progress of renovation and cleaning of the facade. Due to ages of being exposed to airpollution, the stone was covered with soot, making the building seem black, dark and gloomy. Now, after years of cleaning a great part of the facade now looks like in the days when it was first constructed.
I received this card from my parents.

Stift Stams, Tyrol, Austria

Stift Stams in Tyrol, Austria is a Cistercian Monastery near the small town of Stams at the river Inn. It was built in the 13th century. In its place had been a church of pilgrimage to St. John the Baptist.
My parents sent me this great postcard from one of their travels.

Lienzer Dolomites

The Lienzer Dolomites are a mountain range located in Easter Tyrol, Austria. On the card are the different mountains and their heights.
It was give to me by Mrs. Anne Loeffler who received it from friends

Opera House, Vienna

I just fell in love with this card when I saw it while visiting Vienna.  It shows the beautiful opera house of Vienna, together with the premiere program of Mozart's Zauberflöte.
I sent it home to be put into my own collection :)

Imperial Court Theatre (Burgtheater), Vienna, Austria

The Imperial Court Theatre (Burgtheater) is the Austrian National Theatre in Vienna. It opened its doors for the first time on March 14, 1741. The card shows the richly decorated entrance hall with the ceremonial staircase.
It was sent by Nina Kramlinger.

Lake Weissensee, Austria

Wonderful view of Lake Weissensee in Carinthia, Austria. It was sent by Elmar and Barbara Knieps, with a beautiful Care stamp, too.

1000th anniversary of Austria - May 28, 2010

In a deed of gift of November 1, 996, the name Austria appeared for the first time. This card commemorates the anniversary which was celebrated back in 1996. It shows some of the most famous royals. I fell in love with this card the moment I saw it. Of course I had to send one home :)

Queen Elisabeth of Hungary, Hofburg, Vienna - May 28, 2010

Another of the cards I sent from Vienna. Can you tell that I am a fan of Sisi? :) This shows Elisabeth as Queen of Hungary in her coronation outfit. It can be found in the imperial Appartments in the Hofburg of Vienna.

The Habsburg Dynasty - May 28, 2010

This card I sent myself while in Vienna. It shows the sovereigns of the Habsburg Dynasty. Among them are German and Austrian Emperors.

Elisabeth, Queen of Hungary - May 27, 2010

Elisabeth of Austria when she was crowned Queen of Hungary on June 8, 1867 at the age of 29. The coronation dress was on display in the Imperial Appartments in the Hofburg (city palace) of Vienna. Elisabeth was a very tiny person and to wear such an outfit must have been very stressful. I can only imagine the weight of all the finery!

Empress Elisabeth of Austria - May 27, 2010

This card I sent myself while being in Vienna. The original painting is by F.X. Winterhalter (1864), the favourite painting of Emperor Franz Josef.