Originally a Gothic castle, founded in the mid-13th century, Náchod Castle was rebuilt in the 16th and 17th centuries during the tenure of the Smiřický family into a Mannerist castle. Its present architectural form was gained during renovations and interior modifications in the 17th and 18th centuries, when it was held by the Italian noble family of Piccolomini. The Early Baroque Spanish Hall spreads over two floors, and there are unique collections of tapestries as well as Baroque flower still lifes. Besides the Smiřickýs of Smiřic and the Piccolominis, other important owners of Náchod included the Duke of Courland and Sagan and the German princely Schaumburg-Lippe family.
References: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.