One of Transylvania’s jewels has been revitalised thanks to investment by descendants of the nobility

The rich medieval history of Transylvania is almost entirely encapsulated by the Teleki Castle in Mureș County and the moated castle at Gernyeszeg that once stood on the same site, 17 kilometres from Târgu Mureș. A Gothic castle had stood in the floodplain of the River Mureș since the mid-15th century; in the 17th century, the Teleki family first rebuilt it, then demolished it, and erected a Baroque building in its place, which became known as one of Transylvania’s most beautiful castles. Among others, Count István Bethlen, who was descended from the Teleki family on his mother’s side and served as Prime Minister of Hungary between 1921 and 1931, was born here. It served as one of the family’s most important Transylvanian residences right up until the Second World War, after which it was nationalised.

The castle, often referred to as the ‘jewel of the Maros’, has now reached another milestone: on Saturday 1 August, it will officially reopen its doors following a complete renovation.

Planning and securing the funding took decades of work

The project was carried out by the living members of the Transylvanian noble family: this followed the return of the estate to them in 2011. Owner Kálmán Teleki previously stated in an interview with maszol.ro interview that the planning and securing of funding had taken them decades. They finally succeeded in securing EU funding for the project in 2022. One of the most impressive and best-preserved noble residences in Transylvania has been restored at a cost of 4.6 million euros as part of the ‘Inviting Romania’ programme.

Traditional techniques were used during the renovation

During the three-year comprehensive renovation, the castle’s roof was replaced, followed by restoration work on both the exterior and interior. The listed building was fitted with a new heating system, as well as new electrical, water and drainage networks; accessible toilets and a modern kitchen were also installed. The principle of minimal intervention was followed, and traditional techniques were used when restoring the structural elements.

According to information available online, the castle was restored based on plans drawn up by the Cluj-Napoca-based architectural firm TEKTUM Arhitectura. The main contractor was Kvadrum Axis Kft., a firm specialising in the restoration of historic buildings, whose portfolio includes historic buildings that once stood on Cluj-Napoca’s main square, such as the Bánffy House. The wall paintings in the castle’s grand reception hall were restored by Zenta Molnár and Lajos Szász.

During the restoration work, Baroque murals were also discovered, of which even the owners were unaware. These will also be on display during guided tours of the castle. At this Saturday’s opening, visitors can look forward to a day-long programme of cultural and community events, and the café will also be open.