The Château de Coudray-Salbart is a ruined 13th-century castle in the commune of Échiré. Its architecture is remarkable, having never been altered. Notably, the castle supports spurs of almond wood.
The lords of Parthenay-Larchevêque gained control of the Coudray-Salbart site in the 12th century. In 1152, Eleanor of Aquitaine married Henry Plantagenet, who became the King of England in 1154, leading to the Poitou region falling under English rule. The fortress of Coudray-Salbart, built in the early 13th century, became a focal point in the conflicts between the French Capetians and the English Plantagenets.
The castle was however lost its purpose already in the 15th century and was ruined. Today beautiful ruins exist.
The Clementinum is a historic complex of buildings in Prague. Until recently the complex hosted the National, University and Technical libraries, the City Library also being located nearby on Mariánské Náměstí. The Technical library and the Municipal library have moved to the Prague National Technical Library at Technická 6 since 2009. It is currently in use as the National Library of the Czech Republic.
Its history dates from the existence of a chapel dedicated to Saint Clement in the 11th century. A Dominican monastery was founded in the medieval period, which was transformed in 1556 to a Jesuit college. In 1622 the Jesuits transferred the library of Charles University to the Klementinum, and the college was merged with the University in 1654. The Jesuits remained until 1773, when the Klementinum was established as an observatory, library, and university by the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.