Bethlen-Haller Castle, Cetatea de Baltă

Summary

A Renaissance castle with four round corner towers on a hill in Cetatea de Baltă (Alba County), probably built around 1622-1624 and baroque-remodelled in 1770-1773. Bought in 1999 by the family owning the Jidvei winery and restored from 2003 to 2019, it now operates as a wine-tourism guesthouse with visits and tastings.

Legal status

Expropriated 1948; returned to the Haller family after 1989; sold by them in 1999 to a private family on condition of renovation ↗

History

The present castle was probably built around 1622-1624 for István Bethlen de Iktár, brother of Prince Gábor Bethlen. Miklós Bethlen renovated it in 1770-1773, adding baroque elements, a new staircase and stables, and a French-style garden with a labyrinth and orangery was laid out in the later 18th century. The estate had more than 45 owners; the last Bethlen owner, Márkus, gave it up in the second half of the 19th century to the Haller family, by sale or lost at cards according to differing accounts. The Hallers held it until expropriation in 1948, after which it served as a granary, offices and a sparkling-wine unit of the IAS Jidvei state farm, and its furnishings were lost. After 1989 it was returned to the Hallers, who sold it in 1999 to the family owning Jidvei on condition it be renovated. Privately funded restoration ran from 2003 to 2019, and the castle now offers guest rooms, visits and tastings.

Transactions & prices

Listed components

• Castelul Bethlen - Haller — 1615 - 1624, ref. 1769 - 1773 (AB-II-m-A-00201.01)
• Anexe — sec. XVIII (AB-II-m-A-00201.02)

Sources & links