Libochovice castle is one of the most significant Early-Baroque castles in the Czech Republic. The castle stands at the place of the former Gothic fort, rebuilt by the new owner Jan z Lobkowicz in 1560-1564 to a Renaissance castle. At the end of the 16th century, the castle was confiscated and belonged to the royal family. In 1613, the Libochovice demesne was bought by the High Burgrave Adam ze Štenberka. The House of Šternberk sold the castle in 1676 to Gundakar z Dietrichsteina, who had the castle rebuilt into a Baroque style in 1682-1690. Architect and builder was Antonio della Porta.
In 1685, the decorative gardens were established at the chateau subject to French style gardens. After 1853, the gardens were extended and were changed to the Englisch style gardens. The castle offers exhibition of the interior furnishings of the period with the collections of valuable tapestries, glass, porcelain and a unique Baroque tile stove. The chateau is also famous as being a birthplace of a significant Czech scientist Jan Evangelista Purkyně.
References:Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.
Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.
There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.