Located on Battenberg Square in Sofia, the National Art Gallery occupies the historic Ottoman Chelebi mosque and konak, converted into the former royal palace of Bulgaria. The palace, built in two stages during the late 19th century, served as the residence for Bulgarian royalty. After World War II, the monarchy was abolished, and the palace was largely given to the National Art Gallery.
Established in 1934, the gallery moved to the palace in 1946. It houses a diverse collection, including Renaissance and contemporary art, medieval paintings, and over four thousand icons. The National Gallery for Foreign Art, an independent section, was established in 1985. Since 2015, the 19th and 20th century collections are exhibited together, creating the National Gallery Square 500.
References: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.