Separated from the rest of Romania by the Carpathian mountain range, Transylvania still embodies rural self-sufficiency. A good example of this is the picturesque village of Criș, from which Count Miklós Bethlen fled in 1948, during the rise of the Soviet Union. But even after settling in Austria, he never left the place his ancestors founded eight centuries earlier: "When the count returned in 1967, he found his ancestral home in ruins and a village almost forgotten," his family tells us. son Nikolaus Bethlen. "From that moment on, his mission in his life became raising funds for restore the family castle Y support the local population.
Each room in Caretaker's House has a prettier fireplace than the last.
Since the Count's death in 2001, Nikolaus and his mother, Gladys, have continued this work, bit by bit acquiring buildings from the town and renovating them into attractive holiday homes under the flag of Bethlen Estates. The first, Caretaker's House, was completed in 2019 and this year, two more will join: a Saxon-style town house called Depner House due to open in June and Corner Barn, of four bedrooms.
Opening in June, Depner House brings back the region's traditional woodwork.
Bethlen is a company deeply rooted in the land, its people and its traditions . To carry out the restorations, Gladys travels the region investigating historic building techniques and looking for vintage accessories and materials. “Whenever a house is torn down, I'm there picking up old hinges and beams,” she tells us. A team of local carpenters and blacksmiths then integrates the pieces found by Gladys into the structures, using hand-forged nails, tiles and old shutters.
The kitchen at Bethlen Estates is run by Chef Robert Birtalan.
As the scale of the project has grown, so has the impact of the family in the area. Since 2002, Gladys and Nikolaus five annual scholarships have been awarded to children in the area to attend a boarding school in nearby Sighișoara, and whenever they can, they hire workers from the surrounding area. That includes the Chef robert birtalan , who in turn supplies local producers within a radius of 15 kilometers around of the property.
Another of the bedrooms in Caretaker's House.
Currently, Gladys and Nikolaus own ten buildings around the village of Criș, included the old school and a barn. They will all become part of Bethlen Estates in the next few years, bringing more investment and job opportunities for the people. “Originally, Caretaker's House was our family's way back to our roots, but the project has evolved to preserve this part of Transylvania for generations to come," Nicholas concludes.
More information and reservations at Bethlen Estates Y Beyond Dracula. Accommodation at Caretaker's House (minimum 4 people) and Depner House (minimum 2 people) costs €150 per person/night, breakfast included.
Porch of Caretaker's House, in the small Saxon village of Criș.
The article is based on a report originally published in the December 2020 issue of Conde Nast Traveler UK.
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