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: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.