Pürnstein castle, towering high above the valley, was built in the late 10th century. It was first time documented in 1170. In the 13th century, the castle became into the possession of the Prince-Bishopric of Passau. The current appearance dates mainly from the mid-15h century. The castle chapel was consecrated in 1449. Part of the ruins of the original fortifications are also preserved to this day.
A fire on September 7, 1866 destroyed the entire interior with all wooden parts and the roof of the inner castle, only the chapel was spared. The cause arson is specified. However, parts of the buildings added later, most of the 17th and 18th centuries are habitable today. The current owner and the Association for the Preservation of the castle Pürnstein take care of preservation and renovation of the castle.
The castle is located on a north- west and steep terrain. The spacious facility has five semi-circular towers. The main door leads into the outer bailey. The main castle can be reached by the upper castle gate. The main castle is a large, hexagonal residential castle. The courtyard measures 17 x 13.5 meters.
In the central Palas are the knights' hall, living room, kitchen, chapel and the castle courtyard. The palace is surrounded by a defensive wall with five towers. The thickness of the walls is up to six meters.
References:The Cathedral of Saint Mary Major, often called Lisbon Cathedral or simply the Sé, is a Roman Catholic cathedral located in Lisbon, Portugal. The oldest church in the city, it is the seat of the Patriarchate of Lisbon. The cathedral has survived many earthquakes and has been modified, renovated and restored several times. It is nowadays a mix of different architectural styles.
The site where it stands was the principal mosque of Lisbon when it was an Arab settlement. The construction of the cathedral started around 1150, three years after the city was conquered from the Moors during the Second Crusade. Shortly after the victory the English knight Gilbert of Hastings was named bishop of the city of Lisbon.
One good reason to visit the Cathedral is to visit its charming cloisters located in the back. There are several tombs in the cathedral, the most notable of which is the beautifully sculpted tomb of Lopo Fernandes Pacheco and his wife.