# Bethlen Castle in Arcalia

[Romania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/attractions) › [Transylvania](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/region/transilvania) › [Bistrița-Năsăud County](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/county/bistrita-nasaud) › [Arcalia](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/locality/arcalia)

> The only Moorish-Byzantine castle in Transylvania, with four towers topped by red onion domes, set in a dendrological park of over 150 species; the castle can only be admired from outside.

**At a glance:** Castles and palaces in Arcalia, Bistrița-Năsăud County. The visit takes ½ – 1 hours. Information verified on 13 October 2026.

## Key facts

- **Opening hours:** The university publishes no official visiting hours. The local press says the park can be visited at any time, while older sources give 9:00–18:00 daily. Check before you travel, at the station's phone number, especially if you are coming with a group.
- **Visit duration:** ½ – 1 hours — park, castle from outside
- **With kids:** Yes — wide paths, room to run
- **Best season:** All year round — lovely in spring, autumn
- **Address:** Arcalia no. 132 (Șieu-Măgheruș commune), Arcalia, Bistrița-Năsăud County
- **Coordinates:** 47.08546, 24.3541
- **Phone:** +40 263 277 073
- **Website:** https://www.ubbcluj.ro/ro/structura/unitati/complexul_arcalia
- **Wikipedia:** https://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castelul_Bethlen_din_Arcalia
- **Wikidata:** https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q20430153
- **Categories:** [Castles and palaces](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/castles-and-palaces), [Parks and gardens](https://peplaiuri.ro/en/parks-and-gardens)

## About Bethlen Castle in Arcalia

In a village at the foot of the hills, about 15 km west of Bistrița, stands a castle unlike any other in Transylvania: crenellated towers, onion domes covered in red tiles and yellow and pink façades in the Moorish-Byzantine manner. The estate passed to the Bethlen family in the 18th century, and the present castle was raised in the 19th century by one of its members; sources give different dates, from the middle of the century (around 1850, Count Balázs Bethlen) to the 1880s (Béla Bethlen).

The park around it is older than the building: in the early 19th century Count János Bethlen laid it out as one of the first English-style parks in Transylvania, and around 1880 it was reworked into its present form. It covers about 16 ha, and the whole estate measures 16.5 ha. After nationalisation the castle was in turn a village shop, a machinery station and a pioneer camp; since 1963 it has belonged to Babeș-Bolyai University of Cluj-Napoca, which used it for decades as a field base for biology and geology students. Restored with European funds and the university's own money, it is now part of the UBB Arcalia Scientific Station.

### What you can see

A visit is, in principle, a visit to the dendrological park: shady paths, silver firs, Caucasian spruce, Japanese pagoda trees and dozens of other species brought from around the world, with paths that in places form leafy mazes. The castle is seen from outside, from the lawn, with the four red domes of its towers and the double staircase at the entrance.

### Good to know

The interior of the castle is used for courses and seminars and, according to the local press in August 2025, is not open to visitors: only the university's students and teaching staff have access. Organised photo shoots (weddings, christenings, graduations) are not allowed in the park.

## Don't miss

- The silhouette of the castle, with four crenellated towers and red onion domes, unique in Transylvania.
- The double stone staircase at the main entrance, with white balustrades.
- The paths of the dendrological park, with silver fir, Caucasian spruce and Japanese pagoda tree.
- The leafy maze path laid out in the park.
- The red domes of the towers, glimpsed between the trees from several points in the park.

## Good to know before you go

### Getting there

**By car:** Arcalia is ~15 km west of Bistrița (about 20–25 minutes) and ~110 km north-east of Cluj-Napoca, on the Cluj-Napoca – Dej – Bistrița route; the castle stands in the eastern part of the park.

**Public transport:** the village has a railway halt, Arcalia, on the line from Bistrița, but train times could not be verified; the safest way is to come by car or taxi from Bistrița.

### Where to park

There is no official information about parking; ask at the station where cars should be left.

### Fees & discounts

The entry fee was dropped after the castle's rehabilitation, according to the local press in August 2025; the university publishes no prices. Older sources give 2.5–3 lei, so this may change: check on the spot.

### Rules

Only the park can be visited; the castle is admired from outside. Casual photography is allowed, but organised photo shoots (weddings, christenings, graduations) are not. Keep to the paths, do not pick plants and do not leave litter. Announce group visits in advance.

### Facilities

paths and lawns, a gazebo for picnics · no ticket office or shop · accommodation and a canteen for students and groups, in the station's outbuildings (on request) · restaurants and tourist accommodation in Bistrița

## Details

- **Construction period:** 19th century
- **Architectural style:** Moorish-Byzantine
- **Founder:** the Bethlen family
- **Area:** 16 ha
- **Type of park:** dendrological park

## Frequently asked questions about Bethlen Castle in Arcalia

**How long does a visit to Bethlen Castle in Arcalia take?**

A visit to Bethlen Castle in Arcalia takes about ½ – 1 hours (park, castle from outside).

**Can you visit Bethlen Castle in Arcalia with kids?**

Yes, Bethlen Castle in Arcalia is suitable for children (wide paths, room to run).

**How do I get to Bethlen Castle in Arcalia?**

Bethlen Castle in Arcalia is located at Arcalia no. 132 (Șieu-Măgheruș commune), Arcalia, Bistrița-Năsăud County. More under “Getting there”.

**When is the best time to visit Bethlen Castle in Arcalia?**

The best season for Bethlen Castle in Arcalia: All year round (lovely in spring, autumn).

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Last updated: 13 October 2026
Source: Pe Plaiuri (https://peplaiuri.ro/en) — Guide to tourist attractions in Romania