Bethlen Castle: A Hungarian family’s historic home restored – PHOTOS, VIDEOS

The historic Bethlen Castle was inaugurated in Transylvania, marking a triumph for Hungarian cultural preservation. Local people take great pride of the renovation, hoping that it will create a kind of castle tourism, attract visitors and generate employment opportunities.

Pride in cultural heritage

The Hungarian people, who cherish the legacies of their ancestors in the Carpathian Basin, are actively engaged in safeguarding this treasure. According to Turizmus.com, János Nagy, the State Secretary and leader of the Prime Minister’s Office, expressed these sentiments during the inauguration of the restored Bethlen Castle in Szászbonyha, Transylvania. The Bethlen Castle stands as a testament to Hungary’s unwavering commitment to preserving its cultural heritage. The Bethlen family reclaimed the castle and donated it to the Transylvanian Reformed Church District (EREK). This generous gesture has garnered recognition as a model of cultural value preservation.

A 5,000-year-old castle reborn

In 2017, the Transylvanian Reformed Women’s Association embarked on a mission. It was to restore and revitalise the 5,000-year-old Bethlen Castle, the birthplace of Kata Bethlen the Orphan. The castle had fallen into disrepair during the communist era and was returned to its rightful owners in a dilapidated state. At that time, a petition gathered over 6,000 signatures, urging Prime Minister Viktor Orbán to support this noble cause. The Hungarian government heeded the call and provided HUF 2 billion (EUR 5,219,324) to achieve the community objective. János Nagy praised the Women’s Association for its longstanding commitment to helping the sick, the elderly, widows, orphans, the underprivileged, large families and children. Beyond its charitable activities, the association has also embraced the noble responsibility of preserving and enriching cultural values.

Here are some photos from maszol.ro, a Hungarian newspaper in Romania: