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Valdek is a castle ruin in the municipality of Chaloupky in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. The name is probably derived from two German words: Wald (the forest) and Eck (a widespread part of places' names, meaning rock formation).
The castle was built around the middle of the 13th century (first written mention comes from the year 1263) by an aristocratic Buzic family. In 1623 it was described as abandoned.[1] Passing centuries left only ruins, dominated by a still standing large round tower (bergfrit), built during the second half of the 13th century.
In 1926, the area around the castle became part of the Military training area Jince. The castle itself was still accessible (except during manoeuvres). After 1950, no access was allowed. After 1989, it became possible to visit the castle again but tourists were not allowed to stray from the road to the castle.
References:The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.