PHOTOS: 19th-century Hungarian castle will be reborn

Thanks to the financial support of the European Union, a 19th-century Hungarian castle will be reborn in Transylvania, Romania. Romania’s EU funds have not been frozen due to rule of law concerns, while Hungary has been struggling for years to get its EUR billions from Brussels, albeit without significant success.

The Teleki Castle of Komlód is in an awful state with a dangerous roof and tilted walls. But help is on its way. Thanks to EUR 4 billion from EU non-refundable funds, the castle will be renovated by 2028 and open to the public as an exciting cultural centre.

According to Magyar Építők, the castle of the Teleki Family in Transylvania’s Bistrița-Năsăud (Beszterce-Naszód) County was built in Baroque style. Emil Radu Moldovan, the head of the Council of Bistrița-Năsăud County, wrote on his official Facebook page that he had signed the relevant agreement with an EU agency. The renovation’s deadline is 2028.

The Hungarian castle almost collapsed

The Teleki Castle of Komlód is an outstanding example of the Transylvanian Baroque style. However, its state has deteriorated in the past few decades. Therefore, in 2020, the county’s general council started an emergency preservation to protect it from collapsing. A protective ceiling defends the unroofed building from rain and further devastation.

Source: FB/Emil Radu Moldovan

Its revamp has been included in the county’s development strategy for a while and has been among the general council’s priorities. However, they could only acquire EU money for the project this year.

After the restoration, they plan to create a cultural centre in the building and beautify the area around it, as well.

The historic Wesselényi family built the castle

The original castle was built by István Wesselényi and his wife, Polixénia Daniel, in 1756 in Baroque style. Sadly, István died only one year after they finished the building. The coat-of-arms of the Wesselényi and Daniel families above the entrance is the masterpiece of Anton Schuchbauer. The well-known sculptor from Kolozsvár (Cluj Napoca) finished the relief in 1786. The one-storey castle has 14 rooms and an 8,000 sqm inside garden. It also has an immense cellar.

Source: FB/Emil Radu Moldovan

In the 19th century, the castle switched hands and became the property of another historic Hungarian family in Transylvania, the Teleki family. The family even “gave” a prime minister to Hungary, Pál Teleki, who served between 1920-21 and 1938-41 as head of the Hungarian government. Following the Hungarian attack against Yugoslavia to liberate local Hungarians and reconquer Hungarian territories lost after WWI, Teleki committed suicide.

Communist Romania nationalised the castle after WWII. Afterwards, offices and a grain store operated inside. After the fall of Communism in 1989-1990, its ownership passed to the county council. They tried to sell it in 2015 for EUR 110 thousand but could not find a buyer.

In 2016, experts gave only years until the final collapse of the castle building. Its roof collapsed before, and there were talks about static problems.

Hopefully, the renewed castle will welcome visitors from 2028.

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