Beckov Castle in Slovakia to undergo reconstruction

The cultural heritage site will be overhauled with EUR 809,000 in grants from the European Economic Area and Norway

Perched on a high cliff above Vah, Slovakia’s longest river, near the village of Beckov in Trenčín region, stands Beckov castle, resplendent in its ruins. The castle, one of the oldest strongholds within the former Austro-Hungarian Empire, underwent partial restoration in the late 20^th and the early 21^st century, becoming a much visited tourist attraction.

Positive impact on regional tourism

Now, the imposing heritage landmark is on track to a complete overhaul with the help of EUR 809,000 in grants from the European Economic Area (EEA) and Norway, administered by the Investment and Regional Development Ministry of Slovakia.  Announcing the move last week, Vice-premier Veronika Remisova told TASR newswire that the reconstruction will allow the castle to welcome visitors all year round and will impact positively the tourism development of the region.  

The DRAGON reconstruction project is being implemented by the municipality of Beckov, in partnership with the Association of Historical Towns and Villages, a secondary school in Nove Mesto nad Vahom and a Norwegian university. The application has been submitted for funding within the call ‘Entrepreneurship in Culture, Cultural Heritage and Cultural Cooperation,’ which supports the renewal and revitalisation of cultural heritage sites.

Gift for a clown

Legend has it that Beckov castle, built in 1208, had been commissioned by Duke Ctibor as a gift for his beloved clown Becko. Artefacts, dispersed throughout the castle, tell its long and turbulent story.

In the lower courtyard, visitors can find a catapult, as well as the furnace and unique records of the castle blacksmith. In the adjacent buildings, there is an archeological exposition with items from the Trenčín Museum and a photo exhibition documenting previous and ongoing reconstruction works. The inquisitive tourist should look for a wooden statue of a dragon named Blundus guarding the castle well, and a copy of the miraculous Beckov Madonna in the castle chapel.

The upper castle houses an exhibition of medieval hygiene and spa, and there you will also discover paintings by artist-philosopher László Mednyánszky, a Beckov native and one of the most enigmatic figures of Hungarian art.