Lisdoonvarna, County Clare, Ireland

Lisdoonvarna is a spa town in County Clare, Ireland. The name in Irish, Lios Dúin Bhearna, means enclosure at the fort by the gap. It is believed that the town takes its name from the earthen fort of Lissateeaun (fort of the fairy hill) which is 3 kilmetres north-east of the town. 

Prior to the early nineteenth century, there were only a few scattered cottages in the area. The town was established following the discovery of the beneficial effect of the mineral waters, which are rich in iron, sulphur, magnesium and calcium. Lisdoonvarna continue to be an active spa town to this day.

There are a number of archaelogical sites which provide evidence that people have inhabited the area for many centuries prior to the town being established. There are a number of ring forts which date from the Iron Age through to the Christian era and up to the late medieval times.

Lisdoonvarna, County Clare
by OldeWorldGifts

Photomechanical print of Lisdoonvarna in County Clare, Ireland, which was taken towards the end of the 19th century. The photograph shows the quaint spa town, which is well known for the ring forts which can be found in the area. Photograph courtesy of LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsc-09846).

Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the full collection of products featuring this beautiful vintage print of Lisdoonvarna in Ireland.

Bayeux Cathedral in Bayeux, France

Bayeux Cathedral, known as Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Bayeux in French, is located in the town of Bayeux. The Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of Bayeux and is a national monument of France.

The Cathedral was built in the Norman-Romanesque style and was consecrated on 14 July 1077. William, Duke of Normandy and King of England (also more polularly known as William the Conqueror), was present at the consecration.

It is believed that on this site William the Conqueror forced Harold Godwinson to take an oath to support William's claim to the English throne. On 5 January 1066, Harold was crowned King of England, breaking his oath, which led to the Norman conquest of England.

The Cathedral was the original home of Bayeux Tapestry, an embroidered cloth rather than a tapestry, which shows the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England and the invasion itself. The tapestry is 0.5 metres high by 68.38 metres long. The tapestry is now exhibited in a museum in Bayeux, the Musée de la Tapisserie de Bayeux. There is also a replica, created in the Victorian era, which is shown in Reading, England.

The site of the cathedral is known to be an ancient religious site and had previously been occupied by Roman sancturies.

Bayeux Cathedral, Bayeux, France
by OldeWorldGifts

Vintage photomechanical print of the Cathedral in Bayeux, France, which was taken towards the end of the 19th century. Photograph courtesy of the LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsc-04934).

Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the collection of products featuring this beautiful vintage photochrom of Bayeux Cathedral.

Zazzle SALE: 15% off all mugs

Zazzle is offering 15% off all mugs as part of its Back to School sales it has been holding over the past few weeks. To receive the 15% discount, enter the coupon code BTSRULE5MUGS at the checkout. See further details below.

Below is a small selection of mugs available from OldeWorldGifts - most of these vintage photochromes and images are available on coffee mugs, travel mugs and beer steins. Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the great range available. Sales finishes tomorrow - so don't miss out!

15% of the mug net sale price will be deducted when one or more mug items is purchased and the coupon code BTSRULE5MUGS is applied at checkout. The net sale price is the price of the product (excluding shipping and taxes). Offer is valid from August 23, 2010 through August 30, 2010 at 11:59pm PT. This offer does not apply to past purchases and may not be combined with any other Zazzle promotional or volume discount offers. If a volume discount applies to your order, you will receive either the discount set forth in this offer or the standard volume discount, whichever is greater. Offer valid on Zazzle.com only.

ZAZZLE SALE 40% off all Posters and Prints

Zazzle's Back to School sales are continuing. This week they are offering 40% of all posters and prints, which finishes on Sunday. Below is just a small selection of prints available from OldeWorldGifts of vintage photochrom images from around the world. 

See below for details and don't forget to enter the coupon code BTSRULEPRINT at the checkout to receive this amazing discount.

Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the full collection of great prints available and don't miss out on this great opportunity to save. Perfect for those who want to purchase their Christmas gifts early!

40% of the poster net sale price will be deducted when one or more poster items is purchased and the coupon code BTSRULEPRINT is applied at checkout. The net sale price is the price of the product (excluding shipping and taxes). Offer is valid from August 16, 2010 through August 22, 2010 at 11:59pm PT. This offer does not apply to past purchases and may not be combined with any other Zazzle promotional or volume discount offers. If a volume discount applies to your order, you will receive either the discount set forth in this offer or the standard volume discount, whichever is greater. Offer valid on Zazzle.com only.

Ships in Hamburg Harbour, Germany

Hamburg Harbour, or Hamburger Hafen in German, is situated on the River Elbe and is the largest port in Germany.

The port was founded by Frederick I, the Holy Roman Emperor, on 7 May 1189. From this time it became the main port for Central Europe which resulted in Hamburg becoming one of the leading cities of trade.

During the 19th century, Hamburg Harbour became the main port in Central Europe for transatlantic passenger and freight travel. From 1871, it became Germany's principal port of trade.

On 15 October 1888, the Free Port was established, which allowed traders to ship and store their goods in Hamburg without going through customs. The benefits to neighbouring coutries meant that this further enhanced Hamburg's position in sea trade.

Ships in Hamburg Harbour, Germany
by OldeWorldGifts

Vintage photomechanical print of ships in the harbour in Hamburg, Germany which was taken towards the end of the 19th century. Photograph courtesy of LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsca-00420).

Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the range of products featuring this beautiful vintage photochrome of ships in the harbour at Hamburg, Germany.

Zazzle binder from Beachwalker: Sand Dollar Beach Binder - 1" (dk Sand...

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Zazzle binder from Beachwalker: Sand Dollar Beach Binder - 1" (dk Sand... Customizable beach memories binder features vintage drawing of a sand dollar with dark sand color background. Turn into a scrapbook or use as a photo album or guest book. Visit Beachwalker's store Join Beachwalker's fan club	View "Sand Dollar Beach Binder - 1" (dk Sand)" by Beachwalker Create your own products @ Zazzle.com

Zazzle invitation from celebrateinvites: Vintage Frame Brown Yellow Ba...

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Zazzle invitation from celebrateinvites: Vintage Frame Brown Yellow Ba... Start your event off right with our elegant Vintage Baby Shower invitation featuring a beautiful Brown vintage frame with a baby carriage silhouette set on a yellow background. Jus Visit celebrateitinvites's store Join celebrateitinvites's fan club	View "Vintage Frame Brown Yellow Baby Shower Invitation" by celebrateitinvites Create your own products @ Zazzle.com

Zazzle card from RiverJude: Antique Thank You

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Zazzle card from RiverJude: Antique Thank You Check out this cool card I found at Zazzle.com. Visit RiverJude's store Join RiverJude's fan club	View "Antique Thank You" by RiverJude Create your own products @ Zazzle.com

Langdale Pikes, Lake District, England

One of the best known features of the Lake District is the Langdale Pikes, which are a group of five distinctive mountains. They are not the highest peaks in the Lake District but they are characterised by rugged slopes, with three craggy summits in close proximity - Harrison Sickle, Pike of Sickle and Loft Crag.

The Langdale Pikes have a rich history from the Stone Age. Neolithic polished stone axe heads were traded in Great Britain and Europe in prehistoric times which were created on the slopes of the Pike of Sickle. Stone wrist guards were also made in the Stone Age from stones from the Langdale Pikes.

Langdale Pikes I, Lake District, Cumbria, England
by OldeWorldGifts

Vintage photomechanical print of Langdale Pikes, Lake District in Cumbria, England, which was taken towards the end of the 19th century. The photograph features the hills behind Lake Windermere. Photograph courtesy LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsc-08531).

Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the range of products featuring this beautiful vintage print of the Langdale Pikes in Windermere, Lake Districts, England.

Citadel of Namur, Belgium

The Citadel of Namur, or sometimes known as the Castle of Namur, is a fortress located in Namur, Belgium. It is originally from the Roman era - a fortified outlook post was built in the 3rd and 4th centuries to defend the Meuse valley against invasions from the Germanic tribes.

This was replaced in the 10th century by the Count of Namur who also made the area bigger and the new buildings were made of stone, except the tower, which was made of wood. Nothing remains today of this construction or of the Roman outlook post.

It was not until the 13th century that construction of a fortress which is still evident today was completed, with additions being built in the 14th and 15th centuries. Many of these parts of the citadel still exist today.

By the end of the 17th century, the Citadel had doubled in size and had become a formidable stronghold, making it one of the largest fortified constructions in Europe.

At the beginning of the 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte ordered large parts of the Citadel to be demolished. His empire had expanded to such a degree that he felt that he no longer needed a fortress of such a size in Namur any longer.

In the mid 19th century, the Belgian army used the Citadel as military barracks and was it also used as a military stronghold in 1939 -1940 with the underground sections being refurbished with airconditioning, anti-gas systems and armoured doors.

Today it is classified as one of Wallonia's Major Heritage sites.

Citadel of Namur, Belgium
by OldeWorldGifts

Vintage photomechanical print of the Citadel of Namur in Belgium which was taken towards the end of the 19th century. Photograph courtesy of LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsc-05694).

Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the range of products featuring this vintage photochrom of the Citadel of Namur in Belgium.

Vintage Eisenerz in Styria, Austria

Eisenerz is a mining town in Styria, Austria. It is located in the deep Erzbach Valley, surrounded by mountains - the Pfaffenstein (6140 ft), the Kaiserschild (6830 ft) and the Erzberg (5030 ft).

The Erzberg, or Ore Mountain, has played an important role in the daily lives of the inhabitants of Eisenerz for many centuries. At the end of the 19th century, the Erzberg was quarried in the open air like stone in the summer months as it produced such rich ore. It provided employment for many people in the region, with two to three thousand people working the mines in summer and about half as many in winter. The mine produced approximately 800,000 tons of iron per annum at this time. 

It has been discovered that the mines on Erzberg have been worked as far back as the 12th century, showing the importance of the ore to the sustenance of the people of Eisenerz.

The medieval fortified church with a Gothic tower was founded in the 13th century by Rudolph I, also known as Rudolph of Habsburg. The church was rebuilt in the 16th century.

Rudolph was the first Habsburg ruler to acquire the duchies of Austria and Styria, which would remain under Habsburg rule for more than 600 years. These duchies would eventually become the basis for the modern country of Austria.

Eisenerz, Styria, Austria
by OldeWorldGifts

Vintage photomechanical print of Eisenerz in Styria, Austria, which was taken towards the end of the 19th century. The photograph shows the old mining town of Eisenerz, located in the Erzbach Valley surrounded by mountains, and features a medieval fortified church. Photograph courtesy of LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsc-09242).

Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the range of products featuring this picturesque vintage photochrom of the town of Eisenerz in Styria, Austria.

Zazzle mug from Tchotchke: Panama Carnival, 1937

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Zazzle mug from Tchotchke: Panama Carnival, 1937 Vintage Travel Poster from Panama for the 1937 Carnival in February. Visit Tchotchke's store Join Tchotchke's fan club	View "Panama Carnival, 1937" by Tchotchke Create your own products @ Zazzle.com

Zazzle calendar from OldeWorldGifts: Olde World Views of County Cork

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Zazzle calendar from OldeWorldGifts: Olde World Views of County Cork Calendar A collection of photomechanical prints of County Cork in Ireland, which were taken towards the end of the 19th century. The calendar includes Blackrock Castle, Blarney Castle, and more Visit OldeWorldGifts's store Join OldeWorldGifts's fan club	View "Olde World Views of County Cork Calendar" by OldeWorldGifts Create your own products @ Zazzle.com

Oslo from St Hanshaugen Park, Norway

Oslo is the oldest capital in Scandinavia, founded by King Harald III of Norway around 1048, when the first settlements were built at the inlet of the Oslo fjord.

Following the Great Fire that destoyed the city in 1624, the Danish-Norwegian King Christian IV ordered that the city be rebuilt in brick and stone on a new site across the bay and was called Christiania (or Kristiania for a short period of time). In 1925 the city reclaimed its original Norwegian name, Oslo.

St Hanshaugen is one of Oslo's largest parks, just north of the city centre, with views over the city. It was originally a bare rock hill and for a while was used as a graveyard for horses.

In the 1840s, the inhabitants of Oslo started to use the hill for their Midsummer Eve bonfire and the name St Hanshaugen (midsummer hill in English) came into use.

In 1855 it was decided that the hill be turned into a park which was initiated by Fritz Heinrich Frolich. Over the following 10-15 years, over one thousand trees were planted on the hill. Today it continues to be a popular park in Oslo with beautiful views across the city.

Oslo from St Hanshaugen Park, Norway 
by OldeWorldGifts

Vintage photomechanical print of Oslo from St Hanshaugen Park in Norway which was taken towards the end of the 19th century. Photograph courtesy LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsc-06111).

Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the range of products featuring this vintage photochrom of the city of Oslo from St Hanshaugen Park in Norway.

Zazzle postcard from ZiggyMK: World Airlines vintage postcard

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Zazzle postcard from ZiggyMK: World Airlines vintage postcard With a jet-plane taking off to the sky and all classic take on air travel, this postcard keeps the charm of some vintage travel adverts and is still refreshing at the same time. A Visit ZiggyMK's store Join ZiggyMK's fan club	View "World Airlines vintage postcard" by ZiggyMK Create your own products @ Zazzle.com

Old Post Office, Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Old Post Office is located near the Dam Square in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It was designed by the government architect, P.C. Peters, and built in 1899.

The building was considered an architectural and technological wonder of its era due to it crowned Gothic towers, four-storey Gothic/Moorish interior and the fact that it was built on 4,650 piles stuck in muddy ground.

It was also mocked for its ornate architecture for a government building in a city which traditionally had buildings which were much simpler in design and many noted that it was similar in style to England's Houses of Parliament.

The old Post Office building became a shopping mall in 1990 and is arguably one of the world's most stunning shopping malls.

Old Post Office, Amsterdam, Netherlands
by OldeWorldGifts

Vintage photomechanical print of the Old Post Office, Amsterdam in the Netherlands, which was taken towards the end of the 19th century. Photograph courtesy LOC (LC-DIG-ppmsc-05762).

Visit OldeWorldGifts to see the range of products featuring this beautiful vintage photochrom of the Old Post Office in Amsterdam, Netherlands.