The massive western entrance gate of the bailey has been preserved, followed by the rest of the defensive ditch. The original castle had a ground plan layout in the shape of an oval on the SW deformed by a corner. The northern part of the building occupies a courtyard with residential buildings. The core of the castle was extended by an eastern extension probably with a chapel and a northern barrier. the entrance gate to this bailey was provided by a horseshoe bastion and the access in the second bailey was protected by two polygonal bastions. The outer wall of the building is a remnant of a Slavic fortified settlement from the 9-10th century.Just below the castle is a small museum with an exhibition of excavations and finds from the castle. The castle is under reconstruction. If interested, the guide will guide you through the castle and point out the castle cellar.

The predecessor of the medieval castle Brekov was a small Slavic fortified settlement from 9-10. century. The castle is first mentioned in 1307, when it was acquired from the Michalovce branch of the Kaplonov family by Peter, Petény's son. After the anti-royal uprising in 1316, in which Peter was also a participant, the castle was occupied by royal troops and in 1321 Karol Róbert donated it to the nobles Drugeth of Humenné. Filip Drugeth became the owner.

During the Polish military invasions in the east in the second half of the 15th century, the castle was an important part of the defense. At that time, King Matej Korvín appointed Štefan Zápoľský as the captain of the north-eastern regions of Hungary, and in 1488 he also became a castle castle. The castle was probably fortified during his tenure. After the extinction of the Jagiellonians, dynastic fighting broke out, and in 1526, Brekov was the support of the troops of Štefan's son Ján Zápoľský. Štefan Drugeth (his mother Kristína Zápoľská was the half-sister of the elected king) was on the side of a relative. But even John's death did not resolve the dispute between the two rulers. Part of the nobility chose his son Ján Žigmund as ruler and the fighting began again. Meanwhile, in 1558, the main captain of the royal troops of Ferdinand I, Imrich Telekessy, conquered the castle. During the restoration, the fortification of the castle was improved by building polygonal bastions.

After the outbreak of Bethlen's uprising in 1619, the rebel troops occupied the castle and Gabriel Bethlen donated it to Juraj Széchy in 1624. But a year later, he was murdered by his own servants for cruelty. His widow Maria Drugeth then returned the castle to her family. In the next wave of uprisings, however, the castle was reconquered and ravaged in 1644 by insurgents, this time under the leadership of Juraj I. Rákóczi. The castle was only partially restored and suffered considerable damage in the last phase of the Thököly uprising in 1684. Although some of its parts were still habitable in 1698, the castle was gradually demolished.

Since 2009, the castle has been reconstructed and saved by the civic Association for the Rescue of Brekov Castle.

The rumor says

On dark nights, a ghost of a black horse appears in the ruins. It is allegedly the castle lord Barkóczi, whose horse Mišo cursed when his beloved dog was taken away from him. they beat the pony, starved him, and leaned on heavy furrows.

Arkur and Barkó

The evil robber knight Arkur got lost in a deep mountain once on a hunt. He came to a forest log cabin, where he met a beautiful girl. The girl caught his eye, fell in love with her and took her as his wife. On the rocky hill where he met her, he ordered the castle to be built as a wedding gift for his wife, who named her name Barkó - the Hungarian name Brekova. Friendly castle lady and gains the affection of all people. She diligently collected medicinal herbs and helped the suffering. Under her influence, the wild Arkur will also change. He gave up the looting and became a caring farmer who even cared about the safety of the whole region.

The ruin is freely accessible.

https://www.hrady-zamky.sk/brekov/