The Roman Catholic Cathedral of St. Mary Magdalene is located in the very heart of the Karlovy Vary spa area, in the close proximity of the Hot Spring. The church bears the hallmarks of the High Baroque architecture and it is one of the most important Baroque monuments not only in Karlovy Vary, but in the entire Czech Republic. It was built in 1737 on the site of the former Gothic church.
Its interior is decorated with a precious altarpiece, Baroque Eucharist sculptures, Gothic Madonna and other decorations. The church can be viewed during worships, which the church of St. Mary Magdalene conducts every day.
The underground crypt in the cathedral contains a unique funeral chapel, which accommodates the skeletal remains from the former cemetery which surrounded the church until the year 1784. Guided tours to the crypt are available.
References:House of the Blackheads (Melngalvju nams) is a building situated in the old town of Riga. The original building was erected during the first third of the 14th century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads, a guild for unmarried German merchants in Riga. Major works were done in the years 1580 and 1886, adding most of the ornaments.
The structure was bombed to a ruin by the Germans June 28, 1941 and the remains demolished by the Soviets in 1948. The current reconstruction was erected from 1995 to 1999. Today the House of Blackheads serves as a museum and sometimes concert hall.