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Founded: 13th centuryCategory: Castles and fortifications in France
Historical period: Late Capetians (France)
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The site of Château de Château-Larcher was first mentioned in 888, but nothing remains of the original Carolingian fortress. It became royal property under Saint Louis after he confiscated it from Hugues X de Lusignan, who had rebelled and sided with the English before the Battle of Taillebourg in 1242. The king had the castle destroyed in retaliation.
Rebuilt later, it was damaged during the Hundred Years’ War and again during the Wars of Religion by Protestant forces. The Rochechouart family rebuilt it in the 16th century but abandoned it in 1638.
During the French Revolution, it served as a stone quarry for locals. Despite the damage, some structures still stand: the entrance châtelet with two towers, the terrace with old stables and servant quarters, the keep, and a separate tower—once connected by a drawbridge.
The keep, built in the 13th century, is pentagonal and perched on a rocky spur. The entrance towers, rebuilt in the 14th century, once had battlements and a drawbridge. The captaincy building, dating from the 14th–15th century, still has its traditional Poitou tile roof. Since 1997, the castle has been owned by the town and now houses the tourist office.
The church of Notre-Dame and Saint-Cyprien is integrated to the castle, dating back to 12th 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.