Degenfeld Castle in Cuci

The first known owner of the estate was the Pekry family. Pekry Lőrinc converted to Catholicism and in 1692 received the title of count. The Kuruc general Pekry died in 1709. His wife, Petrőczy Kata Szidónia, is considered to be the first Hungarian baroque poetess. After Pekry's death, for the next almost a hundred years, the estate was inherited by women: Pekry's daughter, Pekry Polixénia, married Daniel István. Daniel Polixénia was born from this marriage. Through her marriage to Baron Wesselényi István, the estate became Wesselényi’s property. Their daughter, Mária, married Count Teleki Ádám, and the estate became the property of the Teleki family. With the marriage of Teleki Anna to count Degenfeld Schonburg Miksa in 1800, the estate became the property of the Degenfeld family and is one of the oldest estates of the family in Transylvania.

However, the Degenfeld family lived mainly in Ardusat. After the death of  Degenfeld Miksa, the estate was inherited by his oldest son, Ottó, who lived in Szirák (Hungary). After 1849, Degenfeld Lajos, the younger son of Ottó, became the heir of the estate. At the beginning of the 20th. century, Degenfeld Lakos carried out some modernization work, and in 1907 he built two side wings for the old castle (probably built in the early 19th century). He then gave the property to his son, Kristóf, who became the founder of the Cuci branch of the family. After nationalization, the castle was used as a town hall, doctor's office and library. It became again the property of the Degenfeld family in 2010.

Today, the castle functions as a cultural center. Guided tours are regularly organised in the castle, and visitors can see exhibitions dedicated to the family history, an exhibition dedicated to the first female representative of the Hungarian Baroque literature, Petrőczy Kata Szidónia or they can try their luck in an escape room. 

The building can be visited on weekends by prior appointment by phone or e-mail.
Phone 0720416784
E-mail: procastellumdegenfeld@outlook.com