Rhédey Castle - Sângeorgiu de Pădure
Full description
Sângeorgiu de Pădure is located in the eastern part of Mureș County, along the upper course of Târnava Mică, 25 km from Sovata and 35 km from Târgu Mureș.
The main attraction of this small town is Rhédey Castle (18th century), built in neo-baroque style, which achieved its current shape between 1807-1809, during renovations. This is where Countess Claudia Rhédey, the beautiful wife of Duke Alexander von Württemberg and great-great-great-grandmother of His Majesty King Charles III of Great Britain was born and raised. The beautifully restored castle now houses the exhibition "Mysteria Residentiae Rhédey", in five rooms upstairs, which presents the life of the Rhédey family and the tragic fate of Countess Claudia, who lost her life at only 29 years of age.
Royal connections
In the middle of the 18th century, the Rhédey mannor in Sângeorgiu de Pădure was in a dilapidated state, but in the first decade of the 19th century, Count László Rhédey transformed it into a castle. In 1812 his daughter Claudia was born in this summer residence, and through her future marriage the ancient noble Rhédey family became related to the most respectable aristocratic dynasties of Western Europe. The Transylvanian branch of the Rhédey family died out in 1897 with the death of the last male descendant. Claudia's granddaughter, Princess Victoria Mery of Teck - a descendant of the noble Hungarian Rhédey line - became the wife of George V, King of Great Britain, and together they founded the Windsor dynasty, which still plays an important role in international politics today.
The main attraction of this small town is Rhédey Castle (18th century), built in neo-baroque style, which achieved its current shape between 1807-1809, during renovations. This is where Countess Claudia Rhédey, the beautiful wife of Duke Alexander von Württemberg and great-great-great-grandmother of His Majesty King Charles III of Great Britain was born and raised. The beautifully restored castle now houses the exhibition "Mysteria Residentiae Rhédey", in five rooms upstairs, which presents the life of the Rhédey family and the tragic fate of Countess Claudia, who lost her life at only 29 years of age.
Royal connections
In the middle of the 18th century, the Rhédey mannor in Sângeorgiu de Pădure was in a dilapidated state, but in the first decade of the 19th century, Count László Rhédey transformed it into a castle. In 1812 his daughter Claudia was born in this summer residence, and through her future marriage the ancient noble Rhédey family became related to the most respectable aristocratic dynasties of Western Europe. The Transylvanian branch of the Rhédey family died out in 1897 with the death of the last male descendant. Claudia's granddaughter, Princess Victoria Mery of Teck - a descendant of the noble Hungarian Rhédey line - became the wife of George V, King of Great Britain, and together they founded the Windsor dynasty, which still plays an important role in international politics today.
On the ground floor of the building there is the Tourist Information Center and the painting exhibition of Victor Datu, one of the promoters of Cubism in Romania. Upstairs you can visit the commemorative exhibition dedicated to the flooded village of Bezidu Nou.
The castle can be visited - Visits are possible every hour, only with specialized local guiding (Romanian, Hungarian and English). Please schedule your visit at least one day beforehand.
Address: No. 8, Scolii Street, Sângeorgiu de Pădure
Phone: +4 0743 055 922
E-mail: rhedeyklaudia@gmail.com
Web: https://sgpadure.ro/turism/castelul-rhedey/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ClaudiaRhedey/
Commemorative exhibition dedicated to the flooded village of Bezidu Nou
About 6 km from the town of Sângeorgiu de Pădure was once the village of Bezidu Nou. In the present, this locality does not exist, being under water, as a victim of the communist regime. The commemorative exhibition in the Rhédey Castle is dedicated to this village. When you enter this room, you have 5 minutes to read the history of the village and look at the exposed objects, belonging to the people of Bezidu Nou. After 5 minutes the lights are turned off and a day of the village's life is played. In the middle of the room there is the satchel layout, in white color because we are talking about a non-existent locality, and above it suspended the ground plan of the lake.
On one of the walls there are six pillars, representing the six religions that co-existed in this locality, and on each one is engraved their way of greeting.
On one of the walls there are six pillars, representing the six religions that co-existed in this locality, and on each one is engraved their way of greeting.
The permanent painting exhibition Datu Victor
This exhibition in Rhedey Castle invites us to the world of the painter Datu Victor, who at the age of 84, is one of the supporters of cubism in Romania and one of the most original painters in Mures. Victor Datu was born on 13 June 1932 in Sângeorgiu de Pădure and is still a real artistic presence in the local and national exhibitions. In his work you find the contrast between the new and the example of art in the past, you find the association between the restlessness of new initiatives and the calm of tradition, but also the respect for the professional attitude.
Virtual tour - as if you were there
