Kálnoky Castle

Only 7 km from the town of Sfântu Gheorghe, in the village of Valea Crișului, is the Kálnoky Castle, formerly inhabited by one of the most important and ancient noble families in Transylvania. In the more than 400-year history of the castle, the nobles of the Kálnoky family have actively participated in the political and administrative life of the area.

Few places can reproduce with such fidelity the landscape of rural Romania and the life of the Transylvanian aristocracy of those times. A visit to Valea Crișului is also nowadays a good opportunity to learn more about the nobles' concerns related to hunting, the breeding and care of horses and the training of the hussars, the armed horsemen who had a decisive role in the battles of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Today, the Kálnoky family carries on their ancestors' passion for equestrian activities at the equestrian center right next to the castle. Go there and don't miss the opportunity to enjoy a horseback trip through the most beautiful and secluded villages in the Baraolt area!

Brief historical foray

The history of Kálnoky Castle is intertwined with the family history. Several generations of the Kálnoky noble family contributed to the construction of Valea Crișului, and many of them resided here for various periods.

The building was built at the beginning of the 16th century at the latest and gradually evolved, and by the end of the 17th century it stood on a quadrangular plan, with an inner courtyard and a gate tower embedded in the western wing - so it looked like a real castle. Today, it is waiting to regain its former glory and grandeur.

The Kálnoky family has its origins in the Calnic area of Covasna County, close to Valea Crișului. As early as the early 16th century members owned property in the area and resided here. Among the first family members mentioned in the sources are Péter Kálnoky and his two sons, Bálint and Tamás Kálnoky, who founded the two branches of the family.

After the death of Bálint Kálnoky, the estate is inherited by János Kálnoky, who becomes supreme royal judge of the Háromszék county. He was followed by his son, István, royal vice judge of Micloșoara between 1627–1632. His son, Sámuel Kálnoky, was one of the most prominent representatives of the family, becoming the vice-chancellor of Transylvania in 1694. Count Ádám Kálnoky, his son, was the supreme captain of the Ciuc, Gheorgheni and Cașin Háromszék county and died in 1719, being succeeded by Antal Kálnoky and then by Lajos Kálnoky, Supreme Committee of Turda County.

In the 19th century, the castle and property in Valea Crișului belonged to János Kálnoky, who had a military career in the Szekler hussar regiment. With his son, Félix Kálnoky, who had no descendants, the Transylvanian male branch of the Kálnoky family died out. The property is transferred to the Moravian branch of the family, returning to Hugó Kálnoky who, after the great wars, is declared an enemy of the state and forced to leave the country, on which occasion the estate is confiscated, it being returned to the descendants only at the end of the 1990s.

Kálnoky family riding center

In the immediate vicinity of the castle is an equestrian center run by the Kálnoky family, which carries on the knowledge and tradition of horse breeding and care. The riding school organizes training courses with national and international trainers, individual or group, summer schools and horse-riding trips that take those interested in more secluded and lesser-known villages in the area, but extremely picturesque. Nature lovers will find here a wonderful opportunity to visit and spend quality time with family or friends in an area blessed with fairytale landscapes.

Unique experiences

In addition to horseback riding that will help you discover and fall in love with the Crișului Valley area, you will also find other interesting sights here that will help you better understand the history of these places. You can visit the ruins of the chapel on the Kápolnatető hill between Valea Crișului and Calnic, built in the middle of the 17th century, which served as the funeral chapel of the Kálnoky family, the ensemble of the Roman Catholic church "Holy Trinity", or you can even go a little further, to the town of Sfântul Gheorghe, where we recommend you not to miss a visit to the fortified Reformed Church, the only preserved medieval building in the city, as well as the Szekler National Museum.