The Torre Monreal is a tower, traditionally considered of Arab origin, located on a hill to the southwest of the city of Tudela.
It probably dates from when Amrùs walled Tudela in the year 802. However, there is no documents before the thirteenth century. In 1343 the ramparts and battlements of the tower were repaired, as they were demolished in the severe storms and floods that occurred in previous years. After the Castilian conquest of the Kingdom of Navarre at the beginning of the 16th century and the dismantling of the walls and defenses of Tudela (especially from 1521), the Torre Monreal lost its defensive character, being enabled for other purposes.
The Torre Monreal has been subsequently rebuilt on various occasions. It served as a fortress for the French after the invasion of Spain and Navarre, and was demolished by Espoz and Mina in 1813 , at the end of the War of Independence. It was rebuilt in 1883 , for the defense of the city during the Carlist Wars. The current octagonal brick construction is, therefore, from the Carlist period.
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.