Khan a-Shawarda (the Merchants' Inn) was most probably built by Dahar al-0mer in the 18th century. It has a square courtyard with the remains of a watering trough for livestock in its center. During the British Mandate, openings were made in the khan's courtyard from the north and the south in order to facilitate traffic. It is believed to be the site of a Clarissan Nuns convent dating back to the Crusader Period. History has it that when the Moslems took over the city, the nuns deliberately mutilated themselves by cutting off their noses so as not to surrender to the conquerors (Mondril made reference to this in 1697).
References: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.