BETHLEN CASTLE

In the village of Cetatea de Baltă, 25 km north-east of Blaj, this castle built in the 16th century was completely remodelled at the beginning of the 17th century in a French Renaissance style, on the model of the castle of Chambord. It's flanked by big round towers. It belonged to the powerful Bethlen family, whose members included Gabriel Bethlen, the reigning prince of Transylvania (1613-1629) and king of Hungary (1620-1621). Today it belongs to the Jidvei group, a major Romanian wine producer, and can be visited upon prior request.