The Bečov Castle was built on a granite cliff in the distinctive Teplá river valley, on its confluence with the Bečovský Stream. Granite is a plutonic rock, which means that originated from rock melt at several kilometres depth below the original Earths surface. And because it solidified slowly, had its individual components (quartz, feldspar and mica) enough time to crystallize into relatively large grains which can be distinguish with the naked eye. Granite in Bečov is part of an extensive Karlovy Vary granite massif.
The first reliable information about the castle can be found in a charter from 1349, written by the Lords of Riesenbug, shows evidence of an existing castle residence. The Lords of Riesenbug, also called of Osek (Ossegg), were the first definite holders of the Bečov demesne. During the first phase of development, a keep (or bergfrit) was erected, which served as a defensive tower, and a residence was built on the site of toady of today’s Pluh Palace. After 1356, a representative residential tower of a French type was erected, one of the biggest donjons in the Czech Republic. In 1495, the Pflugs of Rabenstein came into possession of the demesne and because they developed tin mining in the area, they had the castle rebuilt considerably – the interiors of the donjon were remodelle, the earliest building behind the keep was rebuilt in Renaissance style (and called the Pflug/Pluh Palace to this day), and the donjon and the chapel tower were connected by a wing, which served for formal and representative purposes (feasts, celebrations, etc.). From 1624, the demesne owned Questenberds, from 1752 the Kaunitz Family and from 1813 Beauforts-Spontini. The Beaufort-Spontini family were supporters of the Sudeten Nazi party, and after World War II the family were forced to leave, due to the Presidential Decrees of 25th October 1945 concerning the confiscation of enemy belongings and estates, issued by Edvard Beneš. Later on, the New Palace served as a school and the Pflug Palace and the medieval Castle became a museum. In 1996, the Baroque Palace opened to the public. The whole first floor there is dedicated to the unique Romanesque St. Maurus Shrine.