Arechi Castle is a castle in southern Italy located on top of a mountain, at the foot of which lies the city of Salerno.
The construction of the castle began in the 6th century under the Byzantine rule (the construction of the oldest part of the ramparts made of sandstone blocks is characteristic of this period).
Salerno was part of the Duchy of Benevento, which was the southernmost part of the Kingdom of the Lombards. When Charlemagne attacked the Lombards in the year 774, the Duchy of Benevento was ruled by Arechi II. He moved the main centre of power from Benevento to Salerno in order to strengthen his control over strategic areas such as the coastline and to secure communications within the province of Campania. During this period the castle was heavily fortified and its ramparts took the shape that have survived to our times.
Over the centuries, the castle had many owners. Archaeological work has identified, among other things, traces of the Norman presence. A watchtower was built north of the castle, allowing to conduct observations of the Gulf of Salerno.
Currently, the castle has been bought from the commune by a private company that arranged a restaurant inside. The defensive walls, however, are open to visitors free of charge, there is also a museum in the castle (large collections of coins and medieval ceramics were found during the renovation). At night, perfectly lit, it is visible from almost anywhere in Salerno.
The Château du Lude is one of the many great châteaux of the Loire Valley in France. Le Lude is the most northerly château of the Loire Valley and one of the last important historic castles in France, still inhabited by the same family for the last 260 years. The château is testimony to four centuries of French architecture, as a stronghold transformed into an elegant house during the Renaissance and the 18th century. The monument is located in the valley of Le Loir. Its gardens have evolved throughout the centuries.