With windows rolled down, we rumbled along the loosely-paved roads, winding around trees and avoiding the occasional horse-drawn buggy. The Romanian singing on the radio fading in and out as we edged our way closer to the mighty Carpathian Mountains, not far from the breathtaking Transfagarasan Highway. Our GPS indicated that our destination was “just ahead on the left,” and we cranked our necks to see if it was visible from the car.
Wait, that doesn’t look like a castle. It looks more like something out of Alice in Wonderland or The Hobbit…what in the world is Castelul de Lut?
Tucked away in the Transylvanian countryside of Romania lies the Castelul de Lut Valea Zanelor, translated to “Clay Castle of the Valley of Fairies.” This quirky, soon-to-be-open hotel is made entirely of clay, straw, and sand, with all 10 rooms having their own style. The structure was built by the craftsmen from Maramures, a region in Transylvania known for beautiful wooden churches. Look closely at the roof…how beautiful is it?!
As my friend Nikki and I wandered around the grounds, I was stunned. Here we were in the middle of Transylvania, surrounded by lush trees and bushes, a babbling stream, farmland, and famous Romanian haystacks…we were in a movie. This just HAD to be a movie set. Real life isn’t this beautiful, is it?
Running up to the top of one of the towers, I channeled my inner Rapunzel and called for the woodland creatures to gather. I guess they were busy…
As we crawled around the 10 unique rooms, marveling at the style and individuality of each one, I was instantly transported to another time. Another reality. At one point I expected a dwarf to come knocking on one of the doors and inviting me on an epic quest.
On the opposite side of the property from Castelul de Lut is a picturesque little scene: a babbling brook, surrounded by shady trees and a little picnic area. As we made our way to the water, I took stock in the moment. Had Castelul de Lut been in the USA or a country in Western Europe, like France, the grounds would have been crawling with tourists. Visitors wouldn’t have been able to move around as freely and take pictures that were devoid of tourists groups.
Instead, Nikki and I approached the water quietly, listening to the soft lapping of the brook, the soft laughter of the small children running around, and the wind rustling through the trees. Romania was blowing me away with every adventure we took, every village and town we entered, every vista I attempted to capture through my lens.
One of the things about life in Romania that I learned about and LOVE is how much green spaces are treated. Romanians love their parks and value the time they get to spend in them. Whenever we’d pass by a park or area with trees, inevitably there would be families having a picnic, lounging about, deep in conversation and just enjoying the time spent outside. Castelul de Lut was the same way. There were little clusters of stumps and haystacks, creating the perfect setting for an afternoon siesta.
Castelul de Lut is a perfect example of an off-the-beaten-path adventure in the Transylvanian countryside: beautiful, unique, and surreal. And for only 5 Leu a person ($1.22USD), it’s a steal.
After spending a good hour wandering around the grounds and getting our fill of the location, we headed back to our trusty little Dacia, lovingly nicknamed Chachi, and began the windy journey back to the main road towards our next adventure. As we discussed our love for the place, the uniqueness of it all, and general wonderment of when it was actually going to be open to the public, I had to keep pinching myself. Was this real life? I just wandered around a fairytale for the last hour. Seriously. What is Castelul de Lut?
Have you ever heard of Castelul de Lut? What do you think it reminds you of?
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