Castelul Haller, Sânpaul, Transylvania, Romanian, April 2018

Derelict Places

Help Support Derelict Places:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

HughieD

Super Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Supporting Member
Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 6, 2013
Messages
5,532
Reaction score
11,133
Location
People's Republic of South Yorkshire.
1. The History
The Mureşean settlement of Sânpaul is one of the oldest in the county and boasts a rich history including Haller Castle. Named after The Haller family of Hallerkő, they acquired the Kerelőszentpál estate by marriage in 1610, when István Haller married Judit Kendy. Originally from Germany, more specifically, from Nuremberg, the Haller family began to put Sânpaul on the map. With the first fortress having been destroyed after the Battle of 1575, István Haller ordered the laying of the foundation stone for a new castle in 1610. By his death in 1657 an L-shaped, a two-storey castle had been built. The construction works were continued by his son János and wife Katalin Kornis, who built a ballroom and the outer walls with four bastions. The rebuilt castle was completed in 1674 but was destroyed during the Kuruc Uprising between 1703–1711 against the Habsburgs, led by Rákóczi Ferenc II. The Medieval remains of the castle were demolished in the mid-18th century.

The castle was then rebuilt in Baroque style between 1770 and 1780 at the order of Count Gábor Haller, based on a U-shaped plan. Boasting courtyard arcades and a three-axis central olivine, it was a luxurious place with vaulted rooms decorated with paintings and sculptures. The chandeliers were brought from Vienna, and the solid wood furniture from Paris.

The castle circa 1874:

28237169908_a7464b1af7_b.jpgHaller 3 by HughieDW, on Flickr

At the beginning of the 20th century a delightful garden was established around the castle by György Haller and his wife Countess Ilona Bethlen. This is now sadly gone without a trace along with all the auxiliary buildings with only the three-storey grain storage remaining. The more than three-thousand-acre estate and mansion was looted by the villagers and then by retreating Russian troops after 1944. The Haller family owned the building until 1949, but following nationalization, the property was confiscated.

Two rather grainy archive shots of the castle just prior to World War I in 1914 (note the turret on the tower is now missing):

27239576407_91db8ee8e3_b.jpgHaller 2 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40302951400_3f6ebe0757_b.jpgHaller 1 by HughieDW, on Flickr

In 1960, the castle was rebuilt by the 'Authority for Historical Monuments'. During the Communist regime, it was used as site for an agricultural association, vegetable storage, furniture storage and as a temporary home for people affected by floods in the '70s. The furniture, expensive carpets and artwork all disappeared. However, its real destruction occurred post-1989 with the regime change when it was abandoned. Every last piece of wood, including the flooring in the building, was used as firewood, tiles were stolen and stoves destroyed. The heirs successfully claimed the castle in 2001 following a ten-year legal process. Unfortunately, by then the castle had been so badly damaged it could no longer be saved.

Folk-law attributed the castle’s frequent demises over time as being down to a curse placed over the Haller family. A servant was whipped by a former count, Alardi Ferenc, for trying to steal from the castle. The wife of the servant, a Gypsy witch, cursed the family and Count Haller's castle. The Count died shortly after and many troubles beset the Haller family and the curse with the castle being rebuilt three times and three times being destroyed.

2. The Explore
Another place I managed to find out about pre-trip. It was in a pretty, rural setting off the main road between Turda and Târgu Mureş and on our tour route so it seemed rude not to call in at this place. Initially I thought it was just going to be a roofless shell but if you looked carefully, there were a few interesting original features. Very photogenic and big, this place easily swallowed-up an hour of our time. Explored with non-forum member GazzaM. Incidentally I can heavily recommend Transylvania!

3. The Pictures

Into site the castle comes…

27186174627_5517900d02_b.jpgimg7072 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27186172387_30b7c2ea33_b.jpgimg7069 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Round to the front:

42056074881_c4d31db34c_b.jpgimg7015 by HughieDW, on Flickr

42056078031_c3840be587_b.jpgimg7017 by HughieDW, on Flickr

This stone carving to the right of the door is in good nick:

42056079431_616e75b2b6_b.jpgimg7018 by HughieDW, on Flickr

But the one to the left appears to have been defaced:

28183023788_c848e421d0_b.jpgimg7050 by HughieDW, on Flickr

The left wing:

42056082901_2a101ae048_b.jpgimg7019 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40248136250_c24d4587bd_b.jpgimg7029 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Some stunning corridors:

40248123480_91cca91732_b.jpgimg7021 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40248135170_dab67569c6_b.jpgimg7026 by HughieDW, on Flickr

..and arches:

27186106637_37a09a922f_b.jpgimg7022 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Some floors and completely gone:

42056102311_ee5a8342c8_b.jpgimg7027 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Others partially fallen-through:

28262883448_60f8895c3c_b.jpg2018-05-15_09-36-26 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Remains of one of the former tiled stoves:

40248172820_a08ddc2c7b_b.jpgimg7044 by HughieDW, on Flickr

On to the first floor:

41335477224_7942614c73_b.jpgimg7030 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40248141980_5150390433_b.jpgimg7031 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41335494874_7e2cfe90f3_b.jpgimg7036 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Which is very overgrown:

42011597222_1e1fc74814_b.jpgimg7033 by HughieDW, on Flickr

42011599722_ae98b68f79_b.jpgimg7034 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41335491624_bf3b7e9971_b.jpgimg7035 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40248161790_caa844736d_b.jpgimg7037 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Pretty bare but if you look carefully…

41155729355_0b87952be0_b.jpgimg7038 by HughieDW, on Flickr

…you can see the original painted-plaster work:

41335500714_e2e6dce053_b.jpgimg7039 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41335504154_323845ce49_b.jpgimg7040 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40248170260_791f25c13f_b.jpgimg7041 by HughieDW, on Flickr

40248175460_5bf1d3f95f_b.jpgimg7046 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Down to the cellar:

40248195460_9efa9847c4_b.jpgimg7055 by HughieDW, on Flickr

28183026898_71d91939d7_b.jpgimg7051 by HughieDW, on Flickr

A lovely little feature on the first floor of the left wing:

27186160637_65a4bde210_b.jpgimg7058 by HughieDW, on Flickr

41415170314_fa9b58411e_b.jpg2018-05-15_09-34-51 by HughieDW, on Flickr

27186166137_a62c70b19e_b.jpgimg7060 by HughieDW, on Flickr

Up to the second floor:

41155781815_4548d24f47_b.jpgimg7062 by HughieDW, on Flickr

42088844512_21aa8cc0d0_b.jpg2018-05-15_09-35-23 by HughieDW, on Flickr
 
You're certainly getting around the derelict spots in Romania. That castle has quite a history to it. I hope, now it can rot away in peace. Looking at the original plaster work and the ornate windows it must have been a fantastic building. Have you found Dracula's castle yet?
 
You're certainly getting around the derelict spots in Romania. That castle has quite a history to it. I hope, now it can rot away in peace. Looking at the original plaster work and the ornate windows it must have been a fantastic building. Have you found Dracula's castle yet?


Ha ha..tried to fit as much as I could in! Yes..a sad demise and no way back for it now, not even as a "managed' ruin. And indeed, did get to Bran castle which is at the opposite end of the scale!
 
Can't beat an old ruin, that's what I tell the shaving mirror every morning�� nice One, Thanks
 
That is,lovely hughie.that greenery in that shot showing the upstairs is amazing.great set.did you see any vampires
 

Latest posts

Back
Top