Saints Peter and Paul Rotunda, Starý Plzenec, Czech Republic

Pre-Romanesque Rotunda of Saints Peter and Paul dates from the late 10th century and is the oldest preserved sacral structure in Czech Republic. The first mention of the rotunda dates from 976. It collapsed in the 15th century, but was restored later. Inside the rotunda there is an exhibition of archaeological finds.

User Reviews

Alma Šťáhlavská (3 years ago)
Rotunda pochází z 10 století a zřejmě je nejstarší stojící stavbou v západních Čechách. Rotunda byla několikrát opravovaná. Současný stav je výsledkem průzkumu a oprav z r. 1975. Okna jsou zasklena hutním sklem. Podlaha je osazena kopiemi původních dlaždic s Neronem a gryfy. Střecha je břidlicová a původní železný kříž na vrchu střechy byl nahrazen symbolem čtyř spojených slovanských sekyrek. Poslední oprava vnějšího pláště rotundy byla uskutečněna v roce 2008.

Anton Zhuchkov (3 years ago)
Nice place

Zdeněk Šilhán (3 years ago)
Beautiful place, with nice historical path. Only sad thing is you can't look inside.

Michał Różycki (3 years ago)
Picturesque place with beautiful view and spirit of history - worth to visit if you are in Pilsen area.

Ivo Maryška (4 years ago)
One of the oldest christian buildings in the region, it hides some ancient historic gems as well as shows origins of christian culture mixed with pagan influences - such as original floor cobbles depicting cesar Nero. The place is mystical, offers wonderful views over the nearby town of Stary Plzenec. A few steps away you find restored foundations of the midevil administration seat of Old Pilsen, dating to 10th century.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright levaletfrancois

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Château de Falaise

Château de Falaise is best known as a castle, where William the Conqueror, the son of Duke Robert of Normandy, was born in about 1028. William went on to conquer England and become king and possession of the castle descended through his heirs until the 13th century when it was captured by King Philip II of France. Possession of the castle changed hands several times during the Hundred Years' War. The castle was deserted during the 17th century. Since 1840 it has been protected as a monument historique.

The castle (12th–13th century), which overlooks the town from a high crag, was formerly the seat of the Dukes of Normandy. The construction was started on the site of an earlier castle in 1123 by Henry I of England, with the 'large keep' (grand donjon). Later was added the 'small keep' (petit donjon). The tower built in the first quarter of the 12th century contained a hall, chapel, and a room for the lord, but no small rooms for a complicated household arrangement; in this way, it was similar to towers at Corfe, Norwich, and Portchester, all in England. In 1202 Arthur I, Duke of Brittany was King John of England's nephew, was imprisoned in Falaise castle's keep. According to contemporaneous chronicler Ralph of Coggeshall, John ordered two of his servants to mutilate the duke. Hugh de Burgh was in charge of guarding Arthur and refused to let him be mutilated, but to demoralise Arthur's supporters was to announce his death. The circumstances of Arthur's death are unclear, though he probably died in 1203.

In about 1207, after having conquered Normandy, Philip II Augustus ordered the building of a new cylindrical keep. It was later named the Talbot Tower (Tour Talbot) after the English commander responsible for its repair during the Hundred Years' War. It is a tall round tower, similar design to the towers built at Gisors and the medieval Louvre.Possession of the castle changed hands several times during the Hundred Years' War. The castle was deserted during the 17th century. Since 1840, Château de Falaise has been recognised as a monument historique by the French Ministry of Culture.

A programme of restoration was carried out between 1870 and 1874. The castle suffered due to bombardment during the Second World War in the battle for the Falaise pocket in 1944, but the three keeps were unscathed.

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