Le Rœulx Castle, also known as the Château des Princes de Croÿ, is family seat of the Comtes de Croÿ-Rœulx. The origins of the castle date to a fortified structure from the 11th century. It was redeveloped in the 16th century by Adrien de Croÿ and most of the castle was destroyed in the middle of the same century. Views from the very beginning of the 17th century show a house made up of a main accommodation section and two towers that are radically different from the current castle, which is the result of conversion works carried out in the second half of the 18th century.
The building itself, which evokes a certain French-style classicism, mixes both sources of local inspiration (a mixture of brick and stone) and also the Germanic (tending towards the horizontal). The result is a U-shape consisting of a main wing and side wings enclosing a main courtyard. The junction between these wings and the façade is unusual as a result of the convex structures placed in the corner. The central section of the building, which has a frontage with balcony and dome in the centre of a symmetrical composition, houses a vestibule displaying some traces of the previous building, as well as a majestic and profusely decorated main staircase, as well as the stairwell lit by the skylight, with décor in Rocaille style. Finally, the remarkable main drawing room is exquisite testament to the decorative style of the 18th century.
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Monte d"Accoddi is a Neolithic archaeological site in northern Sardinia, located in the territory of Sassari. The site consists of a massive raised stone platform thought to have been an altar. It was constructed by the Ozieri culture or earlier, with the oldest parts dated to around 4,000–3,650 BC.
The site was discovered in 1954 in a field owned by the Segni family. No chambers or entrances to the mound have been found, leading to the presumption it was an altar, a temple or a step pyramid. It may have also served an observational function, as its square plan is coordinated with the cardinal points of the compass.
The initial Ozieri structure was abandoned or destroyed around 3000 BC, with traces of fire found in the archeological evidence. Around 2800 BC the remains of the original structure were completely covered with a layered mixture of earth and stone, and large blocks of limestone were then applied to establish a second platform, truncated by a step pyramid (36 m × 29 m, about 10 m in height), accessible by means of a second ramp, 42 m long, built over the older one. This second temple resembles contemporary Mesopotamian ziggurats, and is attributed to the Abealzu-Filigosa culture.
Archeological excavations from the chalcolithic Abealzu-Filigosa layers indicate the Monte d"Accoddi was used for animal sacrifice, with the remains of sheep, cattle, and swine recovered in near equal proportions. It is among the earliest known sacrificial sites in Western Europe.
The site appears to have been abandoned again around 1800 BC, at the onset of the Nuragic age.
The monument was partially reconstructed during the 1980s. It is open to the public and accessible by the old route of SS131 highway, near the hamlet of Ottava. It is 14,9 km from Sassari and 45 km from Alghero. There is no public transportation to the site. The opening times vary throughout the year.