The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit is a late Gothic brick basilica, with two towers, is located in the southwestern corner of Velké Square in Hradec Králové.
10th to 13th Century: The city’s historical center began as a Slavonic settlement in the 10th century, transforming into a medieval town by 1225. The first parish church was St. Clement's, replaced by the Holy Spirit Cathedral built by the Teutonic Knights between 1238 and 1250. This church was destroyed by a fire in 1339.
14th Century: The new church construction began in phases after the 1339 fire. Queen Elizabeth Richeza of Poland, who chose Hradec Králové as her residence, significantly influenced its development. Initial construction from 1339-1342 included the presbytery and two towers. A second phase under Queen Elizabeth of Pomerania, wife of King Charles IV, aimed to complete the church, but another fire in 1407 caused further delays. Despite Hussite Wars interruptions, the church was completed in 1463, featuring a triple nave.
15th to 20th Century: A fire in 1484 necessitated more repairs, including new towers and bells. The church was looted and partly burnt by Swedish soldiers in 1639. It became a cathedral in 1664 and underwent several renovations, including a major Neo-Gothic restoration from 1864-1876.
The interior was enriched by donations from queens, with influences from Prague masters. The whitewashed walls, ribbed vaults, and circular keystones are notable features. The exterior showcases a striking red brick and white sandstone contrast, a rare Gothic architectural style in the Czech Republic. The cathedral also contains important historical elements like Renaissance tombstones and a late Gothic Marian triptych.
The Cathedral of the Holy Spirit is the only medieval Gothic church remaining in the city and suburbs, as others were demolished for military fort construction in the 18th century.
References:Kakesbeck is one of the largest medieval fortifications in Münsterland and the oldest castle in Lüdinghausen. The imposingly grown complex originated in 1120 as a motte, a small hilltop tower castle. After numerous changes of ownership, the castle was extended onto two islands, but it was not until the 14th century that it underwent significant alterations and extensions under the von Oer family. The estate experienced its heyday in the middle of the 18th century, when it covered an area of almost one square kilometre and consisted of five further outer castles in addition to the core castle, which were secured by ramparts and moats.
The well-maintained condition of the castle today is thanks to the late Wilfried Grewing, the former lord of the castle. The foundation named after him has been particularly committed to preserving the property since 2020.