Teleki Castle

The Teleki Castle is one of the most gorgeous buildings gifted to Transylvania by the Teleki noble family. Samuel Teleki, chancellor of Transylvania between 1791-1822, founder of the “the Teleki Library” in Târgu Mureș and one of the richest men in the region, began the construction of the castle in Dumbrăvioara (Sáromberke in Hungarian) at the end of the 18th century. The construction was completed in 1912, under the guidance of his nephew, Teleki Samu. The seven buildings of the castle are positioned in a U-shaped plane, which ensures large open spaces both in front and behind the structure. The back of the castle was well-known for its British-style-inspired dendrological park, as well as for the pond and horse riding field, where prestigious guests such as King Edward VII of Great Britain or Bulgarian King Ferdinand I, trained for various tournaments. Although started in a baroque style, the castle is now true to the Neo-Baroque style. The architectural story of the castle is largely the result of the innovative ideas that the nobles from the Teleki family brought back from their journeys in Western countries, as well as from the African expeditions of the last member of the family. Moreover, the interiors are flooded with lush baroque details, which blend harmoniously with small rococo elements. The medieval Reformed Church of the village, built by the same Samuel Teleki, is located in the vicinity of the castle. This is, in fact, where he is buried, along with 15 other members of his family. The tomb is grandiose, fitting for his high rank.