Lauciene, Latvia
14th century
Naujene, Latvia
1273-1277
Grobiņa, Latvia
1253
Rauna, Latvia
13th century
Aizpute, Latvia
13th century
Ērģeme, Latvia
c. 1320
Gaujiena, Latvia
1236-1238
Alūksne, Latvia
1342
Aizkraukle, Latvia
1210-1220s
Salacgrīva, Latvia
1226
Alsunga, Latvia
1372
Embūte, Latvia
13th century
Rēzekne, Latvia
1285
Salaspils, Latvia
ca. 1226
Viļaka, Latvia
1342
Vecpiebalga, Latvia
14th century
The Beckov castle stands on a steep 50 m tall rock in the village Beckov. The dominance of the rock and impression of invincibility it gaves, challenged our ancestors to make use of these assets. The result is a remarkable harmony between the natural setting and architecture.
The castle first mentioned in 1200 was originally owned by the King and later, at the end of the 13th century it fell in hands of Matúš Èák. Its owners alternated - at the end of the 14th century the family of Stibor of Stiborice bought it.
The next owners, the Bánffys who adapted the Gothic castle to the Renaissance residence, improved its fortifications preventing the Turks from conquering it at the end of the 16th century. When Bánffys died out, the castle was owned by several noble families. It fell in decay after fire in 1729.
The history of the castle is the subject of different legends.