Holiday in
the ancient land of Transylvania
Transylvanian villages with fortified churches provides a lively cultural landscape of southern Transylvania. These villages are characterized by a pattern of settlement and organization of farms, preserved since the Middle Ages. Localities are dominated by their fortified churches, which illustrate building periods XIII century until the sixteenth century. Once the number of 300, the fortified churches have played a role both religious and military role for more than five centuries. At nearly 150 buildings in the early twenty-first century, the fortified churches in Transylvania form one of the densest system of medieval fortifications in Europe very well kept.
Transylvania’s first authentic heritage accommodation introduces you to the marvels of living history and nature itself. The art historian and ecologist guides who take care of you during the day are backed by discreet and helpful staff at the estate.
Together with the Prince of Wales properties in Transylvania, the Kálnoky domain offers accommodation and activities in this region and the opportunity to relax in an area hidden deep in the forests at the foot lively Carpathians.
Prince of Wales wants its properties to attract more people to discover the riches of Transylvania and in this way to promote a sustainable development model. Spread in several villages in Transylvania, Count Kálnoky estates are places where values has remained unaffected by the current consumer society. These places are under the spell of centuries old harmony between nature and human community.
Together with the Prince of Wales properties in Transylvania, the Kálnoky domain offers accommodation and activities in this region and the opportunity to relax in an area hidden deep in the forests at the foot lively Carpathians.
Viscri
Saxon village Deutschweisskirch (Viscri) is where the Prince of Wales has renovated a cottage with three bedrooms, in the eighteenth century. Using the village as a base, you can discover the authentic landscapes dotted with medieval villages Saxon fortified churches built around wonderful.
Micloşoara
The Székely village Miklósvár can sit in one of the 11 guest rooms of the house of Count Kálnoky, or even in the mansion currently under renovation. Due to the perfect location of the village, there is the opportunity to participate in a lot of trips and daily activities.
Valley Zălanului
The Prince of Wales has created a hidden hamlet Zălanului Valley of the modern world, it is surrounded by magnificent forests of the Carpathians. You can find here the harmony between nature and people, another way of living.
Most guesthouses date back to the 1800’s, although some of them are much older, as indicated by the presence of medieval shooting embrasures. The buildings have been carefully restored in order to preserve their original Transylvanian charm and character. The guesthouses are situated within spacious gardens, some with storks nesting on nearby rooftops.
The houses are beautifully furnished with antiques in the Transylvanian Szekler and Saxon styles. The bathrooms are luxuriously equipped and decorated. A sauna and a billiard room are also available for the guests to use at Miklósvár. Children are very welcome and the guesthouses are suitable for all ages.
Bedrooms
The guestrooms are furnished exclusively with antique Transylvanian furniture, including most of the textiles. All rooms have double beds with specially manufactured mattresses of pure wool and duvet covers. In order to create an atmosphere of peace and tranquility, the rooms do not have television or radio; instead, you will find plenty of interesting books on the shelves. Each room has an electric kettle, with tea and coffee provided.
Bathrooms
The bathrooms respect western standards of comfort (hairdryers, some with floor heating and softened water, except Viscri), some with bathtubs, others with showers, and have a beauty and charm of their own. All bathrooms are private, most are en-suite (although the old Transylvanian village cottages were conceived without bathrooms). The sauna in Miklósvár has been built by incorporating a vast old bread oven.
Common areas
Every location has areas where guests can meet, read or play games and also have their meals. Impressive drawing- and dining rooms with large fireplaces are to be found at Miklósvár and Zalánpatak. There are arbours with benches and tables in all gardens. The kitchens are also open to guests, and you will often enjoy your breakfast there. Miklósvár also has a billiard room within the lower houses.
Food and drinks
Every location has its own vegetable garden and orchard. Here it grows the rare breed ‘Black Transylvanian Bare Necked’ chicken for eggs and meat. Milk, yoghurt and cheeses come from the village’s cows and sheep, and the honey from local bee-hives. All jams and preserves are prepared in our kitchens. Trout is raised locally. The three-course meals with wine are prepared as of old by the cooks who have been passing down the recipes for generations. There are also vegetarians or special dietary. During tours, lunch is provided at a restaurant or in the form of a picnic (if you are in the countryside).
At Miklósvár the wine cellar, with its massive oak beams, stoves and central fireplace, dates from the 17th century. Local wines in high wooden racks line the walls. Meals are eaten by candlelight. Guests dine together in a scene reminiscent of a page from a 19th century novel.
The villages have little infrastructure, therefore we cannot (and do not wish to) claim technical perfection. There may be an occasional electricity failure; however, these are normally brief and rarely affect the enjoyment of our guests. The village streets remain unpaved and pot-holed, so can become dusty in the sun and muddy after the rain. There can be no denying the rustic charm and original Transylvanian character of the villages, which offers an opportunity to step back in time.
All inclusive programs:
Type of package
|
Price per person in double/twin room
|
Single supplement
|
3 nights package
|
470 Euro
|
60 Eur
|
7 nights package
|
945 Euro
|
140 Euro
|
10 nights package
|
1245 Euro
|
200 Euro
|
14 nights package
|
1615 Euro
|
280 Euro
|
Children discount:
- 0 – 4 years old: free
- 4-14 years old: 50 %
Services included:
- full board with wine, à la carte dining;
- tours;
- activities;
- entrance fees
- transfer roundtrip from the airport
ACTIVITIES:
VILLAGE LIFE
You will spend the day with the people in Miklósvár, who will welcome you into their homes and introduce you to local activities. You will visit the local bee-keeper, make some of that lovely honey, and of course taste it. For those with a culinary interest, a lady who also lives locally will be happy to show you how to make the traditional Szekler pastry ‘Kürtőskalács’, which will then be served after lunch. See the blacksmith at work and give him a hand in the afternoon and return to the guesthouse with a handful of new skills. In the evening you can sit outside the main guesthouse on happy to show you how to make the traditional Szekler pastry ‘Kürtőskalács’, which will then be served after lunch. See the blacksmith at work and give him a hand in the afternoon and return to the guesthouse with a handful of new skills. In the evening you can sit outside the main guesthouse on a bench and watch the cows come home alone to their respective gates before dinner.
SHEPHERDS
With a horse and cart you will be taken to the higher pastures to meet the shepherds and their flock of sheep. The guide will explain the shepherd’s lifestyle, as well as the methods used to protect their livestock from predators. There might be an opportunity to hear some of their tales about close encounters with bears and wolves, often only slightly exaggerated. You will also see them milking and making cheese. Returning to the lower pastures, we will have a picnic and explore the beautiful wild flower meadows before returning home to Miklósvár.
THE LAND OF THE SZEKLERS
The eastern Carpathians is the traditional home of the Székely, a people closely related to the Magyars who speak a distinctive Hungarian accent and cherish a special historical identity. During this excursion you will meet a family of woodcarvers and furniture painters who have been handing down their profession from father to son since the 1500s (oldest in Europe), see the totem poles in Füle’s graveyard, and visit a church in Bibarcfalva with historic frescoes and sample natural mineral water. In the afternoon, you will visit a Unitarian fortified church in Nagyajta, before returning to Miklósvár to see the Kálnoky Family Chapel and Crypt. Finally you will be taken to the Hunting Manor, where you will see the restoration work that is taking place.
THE SAXONS
Viscri is one of the most impressive of the Transylvanian old Saxon villages and is on UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The fortified church on top of the hill dates back to 1230, the fortified walls were added in 1525 and an assortment of towers in the 15th, 17th and 18th centuries. The village was saved from destruction with the help of international charities including the Mihai Eminescu Trust with the support of the Prince of Wales, who happens to own a house in the village. There is also the opportunity to walk through wild flower meadows after lunch and visit other villages nearby
ALLEYS, FORESTS AND WETLANDS
Today, you will explore the beautiful landscape of Transylvania in the company of our wildlife guide. This nature tour is not set in stone and the guide will discuss your particular interests. You may, for example, be taken by 4x4 through the spectacular Ajta Valley, where you will cross the river more than ten times! Before having a picnic at the banks of the Ajta stream (with opportunities for swimming), you will be able to go for a short hike up the side of the valley where wild flower meadows and a panoramic view await you. After the picnic, we will then continue our journey through the valley. On the other side, we will drive through breathtaking scenery before returning to Miklósvár.
A CASTLE AND A FORT
Bram Stoker immortalised Transylvania in his book ‘Dracula’, but he never actually visited the region. Castle Bran, which has become synonymous with Count Dracula, towers dramatically on a crag overlooking the village. Our culture guide will help you to sort fact from fiction. There is also a reconstructed village nearby with traditional barns and houses, which provides an insight into rural life in medieval Transylvania. After Bran, we will visit Râsnov, where a ruined fort founded around 1225 by the Teutonic Knights, sits high amongst fir-clad forests, commanding a spectacular view of the surrounding mountains.
THE BIRD WALK
This bird walk around Miklósvár is more of an excuse for your host (Tibor Kalnoky) to know you and spend some time together (in the rare cases he isn’t available, another activity or guide will be offered).
THE FOSSIL TRAIL AND FOREST HIKE
This walk will lead you to famous fossil sites rich in Ammonites, Belemnites and different molluscs as well as beautiful countryside, secluded forests and panoramic views. You will start from Ürmös, the village situated opposite Miklósvár, on the other side of the River Olt. Here you can observe the Saxon influence on local Transylvanian architecture. At the edge of the village there is a famous fossil site in cretacic sandy marls rich in shells and ammonites. Next, you will walk through hay meadows until you reach well-preserved woodland pastures with mature oak trees. The total length of the trip is around 20 km, but it can be shortened depending on your fitness level. This nature tour is again not set in stone and the guide will discuss your walking preferences and particular interests.
THE VOLCANIC LAKES
After breakfast, we will drive through spectacular mountainous scenery to reach the summit of Mount Csomad. Here you will discover St. Ann’s lake, the only intact volcanic lake in Europe. A small chapel is situated close to the lake. Our culture guide will explain the legend of St. Ann and its association with the lake. You will also enjoy a picnic at the lakeside. The rare Tinovul Mohus peat bog can also be found at this site(situated in a secondary crater, with glacial relics such as Drosera insectivorous plants). A local guide will accompany you to explain the unique flora and fauna which is found in the area during your walk. There is also the possibility to visit the remarkable sulphur caves, which provide an unforgettable sensory experience.
SIGHISOARA
In the company of our cultural guide, you will visit Sighisoara and learn about the history of the Saxons in Transylvania. Sighisoara is one of the seven major Saxon towns dating back to the 13th century and is on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is also the alleged birthplace of Vlad Tepes, “The Impaler”. The old town or citadel dominates the newer quarters from a rocky massif. During this tour you will visit the Citadel, the Clock Tower, the Monastery Church, some of the fourteen Guild Towers, and climb the Scholar’s Stairs to reach the newly restored Church on the Hill and the atmospheric Saxon cemetery. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant in the cobbled town square.
