Riga, Latvia
1209
Riga, Latvia
1211
Riga, Latvia
13th century
Riga, Latvia
1225
Riga, Latvia
1727-1733
Riga, Latvia
1857-1859
Riga, Latvia
1876-1883
Riga, Latvia
1818
Riga, Latvia
1869
Riga, Latvia
1820-1825
Cēsis, Latvia
13th century
Valmiera, Latvia
1238
Kuldīga, Latvia
1252
Riga, Latvia
1893
Aglona, Latvia
1768-1780
Jelgava, Latvia
1890-1892
Talsi, Latvia
1567
Saldus, Latvia
1900
Riga, Latvia
1760-1814
Liepāja, Latvia
16th 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.