In the 13th century the Lords of Osek founded the castle Bečov nad Teplou on the rock bulge on the provincial route and it should serve as its protection and for collecting duties. The biggest vigour of the castle was in the late 15th century, when the castle belonged to the family Pluhové of Rabštejn, who were engaged in gold, silver and tin mining. The Pluhové family connected two older parts of the castle and later they built a new representative and residential palace in the Renaissance style there. In 1547 Kaspar Pluh stood up in the head of the uprising of the Estates against Ferdinand I, which failed and he was sentenced to death. The Bečov dominion continued to serve as a pledge for the debts of the Emperor Chamber. The Thirty Years War made an end of tin prosperity and in 1648 Swedish army damaged the castle and occupied it. The most valuable preserved part of the castle is the Chapel of the Visitation of Our Lady from the year 1400 with original frescoes depicting 17 Biblical motives.
In the 18th century, on the bases of the former fortifications above the castle moat a Baroque chateau with octagonal tower was built. Inside the tower were built representative halls, a library and fountains. In the 19th century the castle was connected with the chateau into one complex. The project of reconstruction of the complex in the Romantic style by architect Josef Zítek was realized only partly, mainly in the interiors. There were valuable collections of paintings and tapestries from the property of Belgian Beaufort-Spontin family, who bought Bečov in 1813. During the last years the chateau went through complete reconstruction. The exposition “History and meaning of reliquaries” was accessed to the public. Alfred de Beaufort bought a reliquary from the 12th century for 2 500 franks, had it restored and brought it to Bečov. At the end of World War II the Beauforts, as active collaborates with the Nazi system, left the chateau in a hurry. The reliquary was hidden under the floor of the castle chapel for 40 years. In the 80-ies the criminologists got the tip that one foreign businessman was offering mediating services in the export of the forgotten reliquary. After long investigations in the archives and interrogations of witnesses there were tipped several places, where the reliquary could be hidden. On the 5th November 1985 was the reliquary found, surrounded by bottles of wine and cognac. Sixty Czech as well as foreign specialists participated in its restoration. Since may 2002 the reliquary has been exposed in a special safe deposit room in the chateau Bečov.
Unique night sightseeing, seeing of the reliquary of St. Moor
