Šternberk Castle was mentioned first time in 1269 and it was built decaces earlier. It was later altered in Renaissance style but suffered damages in Thirty Years War.
Around the year 1700 the estate was bought by Jan Adam Ondřej of Lichtenštejn. The Lichtenštejns owned the castle till the end of the World War II and also realized the last big reconstruction. The reconstruction did not only give the castle todays appearance, but also the first floor was opened for public as a museum due to it. Lichtenštejns lived on the second floor, but only till the end of the World War II.
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.