17.9 The ruins of Brekov castle with the Laborec valley

Pencil, watercolour on paper, 317 x 481 mm
Inscribed at bottom middle: Laborot Thal, Drugethisches Schloß Barko; at bottom right: Eörmezőer Waltungern
Inscribed on the backing at bottom left: Barkó vára Laborcz völggyel
MTA Könyvtára, Kézirattár, Ms 4409/209

Map: IV

A neighbouring village of Humenné, Brekov / Barkó had roughly 600 Slovak inhabitants in the 1850s. The ruins of Brekov castle stand on the rocky hill above the village. The castle was built after the Mongol invasion of 1241-1242 and was demolished by troops of György Rákóczi I in the 1640s. In the 18th century the Count Csáky family had it rebuilt. Tradition has it that many a sumptuous reception was organised here. - Bibliography: Fényes Elek, Szabó Károly, Szombathy 1986