The museum-castle Grimmenstein is the most famous sight of the village of the same name. The building consists of a so-called high castle on the rock and a hillside castle below. The name of the castle dates back to the 12th century, but its foundations and parts of the masonry are much older. Some sources point to a much older history of the castle, for example, part of the preserved keep is said to date back to a Roman watchtower around 2,000 years old. After years of decay, it has been undergoing extensive renovation by the Grimmenstein family since 2014.
The closest public parking is the Asfinag parking lot in the valley, from which a slow train departs every hour during opening hours. To linger until the next guided tour of the castle, you can enjoy the magnificent panorama of the Buckligen Welt from the terrace and fortify yourself with snacks, homemade pastries and drinks.
The destination is also popular as a location for children's birthday parties and private celebrations. The castle is heated and can be used for events all year round.
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.