The Iulia Hasdeu Castle

The Iulia Hasdeu Castle was built by Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu, a great Romanian writer, historian, and politician, according to the indications he said were sent to him by his deceased daughter during séances.

The legend about Iulia Hasdeu Castle

Iulia Hasdeu was considered a child prodigy, a young genius: at the age of four she could speak and write in three foreign languages, and at the age of 16 she was admitted to the University of Sorbonne. At the age of 19, however, Iulia was slain by tuberculosis. Unable to accept the death of his daughter, Hasdeu immersed himself in séances and in the study of esotericism.

Six months after Iulia's demise, he made contact with her spirit, and during the communication, she asked him to build a castle according to her strict specifications. He complied, and the castle was built between 1893 and 1896. The layout of the building is in the shape of a cross, having three towers decorated with esoteric symbols meant to aid communication with the other world. The castle – nowadays a museum – still keeps the transcripts of séances. Some of the messages are transmitted in French, English, Russian and Arabic. The museum displays even the sheet music for a composition transmitted during the séances. In keeping with its mysterious aura, the source of numerous legends, the Iulia Hasdeu Castle has not yet revealed all its secrets.

Hasdeu’s metaphysical temple caught the eye of the curious inter-war local and central press which transformed the estate into a dear desolation. A journalist wrote that if the beautiful statue of Christ wouldn’t have been there, the Iulia Hasdeu Castle had been completely ruined. Nevertheless, the castle has a certain energy that creates a peaceful atmosphere. It follows that for a passionate visitor, willing to know more, a pilgrimage here may be the moment of a revelation, through the contact with the strange symbols. Beyond semblances, the visitor will discover the essence, because, as a great Romanian writer stated, ‘’here, in every spot, the matter tells something ‘’.

You can visit Iulia Hasdeu Castle as part of this tours:
Dracula Beyond the Legend
Halloween in Transylvania: Midnight tales

Visiting hours:

Summer season: from March 1 to October 31
Monday: closed
From Tuesday to Sunday: 9.00 - 17.00.
Winter season: from November 1 to February 28/29
Monday: closed
From Tuesday to Sunday: 8.00 - 16.00.