News

In today’s newsletter, we present three manor houses that are fine examples of Neoclassical architecture. Neoclassicism is a significant architectural style that followed the Baroque and preceded Romanticism and Historicism, emerging in Transylvania at the end of the 18th century. In contrast to Baroque buildings, characterised by highly decorative and...

In a previous newsletter, we presented three castles in Mureș County that currently house museums. In today’s newsletter, we continue the series with noble residences in Hunedoara, Bihor and Alba counties that currently function as museums.Magna Curia in Deva stands south of Deva Fortress, in the centre of the city....

In today’s newsletter, we present three castles in Mureș County that currently operate as museums and welcome visitors with exhibitions covering a variety of themes.Rhédey Castle in Sângeorgiu de Pădure is famous for being the place where Countess Claudia Rhédey, the great-great-grandmother of King Charles III of the United Kingdom,...

The Wesselényi family is an ancient Hungarian noble family whose origins can be traced to Nógrád County. In the mid-16th century, members of the family settled in Transylvania, where they quickly rose to prominent political positions and acquired vast landed estates. Among their most significant possessions were the estates of...

In today’s newsletter, we present a selection of manor houses that have recently undergone complete restoration or are in the final stages of conservation. Some of these beautifully restored estates now serve as private residences and can only be visited by prior arrangement. Others, however, have been opened to the...

Baroque art began to make its way into Transylvania during the second half of the 17th century. At first, Baroque-style alterations were carried out on the façades and interiors of existing older buildings, while from the middle of the 18th century onwards, newly built castles and manor houses with Baroque...

The region of Háromszék is rightly known as "the land of manor houses", as the region is home to a remarkable number of manor houses and small castles of outstanding historical and architectural value. Built between the 17th and 19th centuries, these noble residences combine Renaissance, Baroque, and Classical stylistic...

In today’s newsletter, we present three castles that are important monuments of Transylvanian Renaissance architecture. They share striking similarities in appearance, as they belong to the type of Renaissance castle characterized by a compact, enclosed layout without an inner courtyard and featuring corner towers, a design that became widespread in...

The Károlyi family is one of the oldest Hungarian aristocratic families. According to historical tradition, they descend from the Kaplyon clan, which acquired its estates during the Hungarian Conquest, including Căpleni and Carei, from which the family later took its name. Over the centuries, members of the family played a...

In the mid-20th century, aristocratic residences that had been nationalized followed different paths after the political changes. Some still house state institutions to this day, making them inaccessible to the general public. Others were returned to the descendants of the original owning families, and some of these have since been...

We have little information about the designers of castles or the craftsmen involved in their construction, as the sources referring to them have mostly been destroyed or have survived in a highly incomplete form. In today’s newsletter, we present castles where the masters involved in design and execution are known,...

In today’s newsletter we would like to draw attention to castles and historic noble residences with a long and distinguished past that are currently in a severely deteriorated condition or balancing on the verge of complete destruction.Previously we also presented the Haller family’s castles in Coplean and Sânpaul, as well...

The Neo-Renaissance architectural style is one of the defining trends of historicism. In the second half of the 19th century it spread across Europe, and soon aristocratic residences inspired by Renaissance forms began to appear throughout the Kingdom of Hungary: castles and palaces, as well as urban public buildings such...

In today’s newsletter we present three castles that played an important role during the period of the Principality of Transylvania.„...the most renowned castle of the princely era, and the one that endured the greatest number of storms, Făgăraș, where perhaps no other building appears as often in the turbulent history...

Neo-Gothic architecture was one of the defining trends of 19th-century Romantic architecture, drawing inspiration from the stylistic elements of medieval Gothic style. The 19th century was marked by an intensified interest in the past, and Romantic architecture sought primarily to evoke the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. Neo-Gothic emerged within...

Renaissance art originated in Florence and spread throughout Italy during the course of the 15th century. In the Kingdom of Hungary, its influence first appeared at the Buda court of King Matthias Corvinus, while in Transylvania it began to take hold in the final decades of the 15th century. Initially,...

Noble castles primarily served to represent the rank and power of their owning families, at the same time, they were also important settings of social life, science, the fine arts, music, and literature. In today’s newsletter, we present three Transylvanian castles which, beyond their historical and art historical value, also...

The Teleki family is one of the most significant aristocratic families of Transylvania and Hungary. Over the centuries, the Teleki family produced many outstanding figures in Hungarian cultural, scientific and political life, and also built several impressive castles, mainly in northern Transylvania, in the Chioar region and along the Mureș...

In today’s newsletter we present three mansions that represent special examples of the noble architecture of Székely Land, as their interiors hide unique murals preserved in relatively good condition.The Apor Mansion in Turia de Jos is a modest-looking building combining Renaissance and Classicist features, and from the outside it does...

During the communist era, the aristocratic residences that had been nationalized faced different destinies after the regime change. Some buildings continue to house state institutions, making them inaccesible to the general public. Several castles were returned to the descendants of the original owner families, and some of these were successfully...

The Bánffy family is one of the oldest and most prestigious aristocratic families of Transylvania. Its members played a prominent role in Hungarian cultural, scientific, and political life. As early as the 14th century, they owned extensive estates in Cluj County, and the castles built here faithfully reflect their former...

We are grateful and happy to represent our Castle in Transylvania programme internationally and to learn from best practices from all around Europe! Our colleagues at PONT are attending two castle-related events this week. Executive Director Balázsi-Pál Ágnes is taking part in the International Training Week organized by Sites &...

PONT Group was nominated for the Cultural Entrepreneurship prize awarded by the Administration of National Cultural Fund (AFCN). The PONT Group completed two AFCN-funded projects in 2018 and has a third project ongoing in 2019. In the EduCastle project we created 12 toys which help children aged 4-12 to learn about...

We are very happy that so many of you came to the Mikes Estate in Zăbala this year, too! We would like to thank the more than 500 visitors that chose our event, organized by the Castle in Transylvania program and the Roy-Chowdhury-Mikes Foundation for the second year in a row....

Six castles in Transylvania, Romania joined the series of events called PIKNIK – Open Castles’ Week, coordinated by the Castle in Transylvania Programme between 24th and 27th May and jointly attracted over 3000 visitors. “We are very glad that the Castle in Transylvania Coalition joined a European initiative in the European...

Step through the open gates of Transylvanian castles! Six castles open their doors for you between the 24th and 27th of May as part of the international event series entitled Private Heritage Week during PIKNIK – Open Castles Week. Check out the programme on our website, too >>> http://piknik.castleintransylvania.ro Each castle awaits...

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Full of energy and ideas – this is how the Castle Formula camp had been. See you in April at the conference where we will present the ideas for the revitalization of the Castles of Vârghiș and Racoș.

At the closing ceremony of CASTLE FORMULA multidisciplinary camp 37 young people and 5 facilitators presented their project ideas for the revitalization of two castles. The event was organized by PONT Group with the help of Covasna County Tourism Association between the 9–15 December, 2016 at Hotel Daniel Castle, Tălișoara....

We arrived to Daniel castle, Tălișoara yesterday – we got to know each other and the Castle in Transylvania programme. At the opening ceremony we welcomed the collaborators of the Covasna County Tourism Association and the vice president of Covasna County Council, Róbert Grüman.Photo credits: Szabó Tamás Photos here: https://goo.gl/CNeKBC

As a result of a complementary project funding for the “Castle in Transylvania - Strategy and Development Models” program developed by PONT Group, business plans will be realized for Daniel Castle from Vârghiş (Covasna County) and Sükösd-Bethlen Castle from Racoş (Brasov County). PONT Group has launched a strategic process in March...

PONT Group presented the Castle in Transylvania strategy in the courtyard of the castle of Gilău on the 25th of June, 2016. The strategy is written in three languages (Romanian, Hungarian and English) with the collaboration of experts and castle owners. The aim of the strategy is to contribute in...

Cotroceni National Museum, ARCHÉ Association and PONT Group organized a debate on the topic of the conservation and revitalization of the build cultural heritage on 24 March 2016 at the Cotroceni National Museum. Cristina Verona Tobi, the manager of the Cotroceni National Museum opened the event. ”What happens in the country...

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC CAPITALIZATION OF CASTLES AND MANSIONS  Cotroceni National Museum, ARCHÉ Association and PONT Group are pleased to invite you to another round-table discussion on built heritage conservation and capitalization. The event is part of the programme series initiated at the beginning of this year with the exhibition entitled “Forgotten...

When she was a child her gradparents told her stories about the castle and the Mikes family. Now, she visited the place hoping that the reality won't be different from her imaginary world.   When she was a child her gradparents told her stories about the castle and the Mikes family. Now,...

Here are some pictures of the second Castle in Transylvania meeting which was held on the 15th of January 2016.   Vă mulțumim că ați participat la cea de a doua conferință din cadrul proiectului Castel în Transivania - strategii și... Posted by Castel în Transilvania on Friday, 15 January 2016

Please note that the date of the conference has changed! For technical reasons the conference will take place in January 2016. We will come back soon with the new date. We are sorry for any inconvenience caused by this change and we look forward to seeing you in January!

As a complement to the initial project with the support of the National Cultural Fund (AFCN) PONT Group has created the Castle in Transylvania cellphone application showing 300 castles and manors which wants to help those who are interested, those who are traveling to know, to explore this legacy.  Download the...

PONT Group organized the first conference and public meeting on the project Castle in Transylvania - strategies and development models on the 17th of August 2015 at Sapientia University in Cluj-Napoca. PONT Group aims through this event to launch a series of debates, discussions that bring added value to the...

The word “castle” captures public attention, raises interest, and instills nostalgic feelings, but also sadness because of its uncertain future.This raises the question: is there anything that can be done about castles being rendered derelict? The castles and citadels of Transylvania form the most significant part of the province's cultural heritage,...

 Pictures about the first Castle in Tansylvania conference. Thank you for attending the event. We welcome you to the next conference as well. Posted by Castel în Transilvania on Tuesday, 18 August 2015

The PONT Group will organize the first conference and public meeting of the Castle in Transylvania – strategies and development models project on the 17th August 2015, to be held in the Sapientia University in Cluj-Napoca (4. Calea Turzii). The venues and dates of the event are not random. We plan...