Map of Sânmiclăuş: Bethlen castle

The castle was built by Bethlen Miklos between 1667-1683. It used to be surrounded by a double stone wall, five bastions and a moat. Bethlen Miklos' daughter Agnes married count Kemeny Zsigmond here in 1719. In 1856 the castle became the property of the Bruckenthal family. They restored the building and opened an agricultural school in it. The communist regime gave the castle to the state owned agricultural institution, and used the luxury rooms to accommodate the families of young engineers and milk-men coming from other parts of the country.
In a span of 50 years the castle functioned as kindergarten, prison, canteen, butcher's shop and champagne section, this leading to the destruction of all beautiful frescos and stuccos.
The spiral stairs that once were amazing with all those statues are now on the verge of collapse, and so is the balcony. The void that lies behind the broken windows is now protected by a huge lock on a rusty chain, but this does not protect the building against one archenemy: time.

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Felszegi Elemér

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Habók Lilla

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Felszegi Elemér

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Habók Lilla

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Habók Lilla

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Habók Lilla

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Habók Lilla

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Habók Lilla

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Habók Lilla

Bethlen castle, Sânmiclăuș , Photo: Maria-Mihaela Vass

GPS: 46.24400N, 24.06297E