Indonesia: World Press Freedom Day

Every year, 3 May is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. This year the UNESCO, the Government of Indonesia, and the Press Council of Indonesia co-organized the World Press Freedom Day's main event and the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize Ceremony in Jakarta, Indonesia, from 1-4 May 2017.

This nice cover was sent to me from Pontianak, Indonesia. The city is located precisely on the equator, hence it is widely known as Kota Khatulistiwa (Equatorial City). The city center is actually less than 3 kilometres (2 mi) south of the equator.

Stamps:

World Press Freedom Day (full Set) - Issued: 03-05-2017

Many thanks to Muhammad for this nice Cover!

Åland: EUROPA - Kastelholms Slott

Kastelholm Castle (Swedish: Kastelholms slott) is a Swedish-buil medieval castle located in Sund, Åland, Finland, approximately 25 kilometres (16 mi) northeast of of the capital Mariehamn, overlooking a fjord to the south of the village of Kastelholm. Built in the 14th century, and held in fief during the Middle Ages by various nobles, feudal chiefs, and kings, it had significant period in the 15th and 16th centuries. Today it is an important part of the tourist circuit in Åland.

I'm happy to receive this cover with a matching illustrated postmark from Kastelholm Castle!

Stamp:
EUROPA "Castles" - Issued: 09-05-2017 with matching postmark

Latvia: EUROPA - "Castles"

Latvia is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe, one of the three Baltic states. The capital of Latvia is Riga. For this year's EUROPA theme Latvian Post issued two stamps. The first one shows Bauska Castle (Nom. 1,71 €). It is a complex consisting of the ruins of an earlier castle and a later palace on the outskirts of the Latvian city of Bauska. The other one is Cesvaine Palace (Nom. 0,78 €). It is located in the town of Cesvaine in the Madona District. Next to the palace are the old medieval castle ruins, remains from the old bishops castle. Cesvaine Palace was built in 1896 for the German baron Emil von Wulf.

Stamps:
EUROPA Castles (full set) - Issued: 21-04-2017


Many thanks to Vera for this nice Cover!

France: EUROPA - "Castles"

For this year's EUROPA Issue the french Post put together three castles on one stamp. You can see Castles of the Loire Valley, Chambord (Loir-et-Cher), Azay-le-Rideau (Indre-et-Loire) and Chenonceau (Indre-et-Loire). The Loire-Valley, the region, where all these castles are located is a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000. 

Stamp:

EUROPA 2017 "Castles" - Issued: 14-05-2017

Many thanks to Eric for this nice Cover!