Béldy Castle in Jibou
About Béldy Castle in Jibou
Béldy Castle stands in the middle of an oak forest, about 2–3 km from the centre of Jibou, on the former estate of the Wesselényi family, which spread around the town. It was built around 1903 for the marriage of Kálmán Béldy and Pálma Wesselényi, on land given by the bride's father, Béla Wesselényi. The building recalls late Renaissance villas and the Palladian style, and it was once surrounded by a tennis court, a racecourse and a landscaped park.
After nationalisation in 1948 the castle was a hospital, an old people's home and, later, a centre for people with neuropsychiatric conditions. It was returned to the family's heirs in 2009, and Sălaj County Council bought it and has managed it since. A restoration project with European funds (the "România Atractivă" programme, under the PNRR) was abandoned in 2025, after the technical documentation and tenders could not be completed.
What you can see
The complex has three buildings; the most imposing is the two-storey castle, with projecting wings that step forward and back, and between them a wide loggia carrying a terrace. The former park in front of the building, once with rectangular flower beds, is now a wood. According to some accounts the library furniture has survived inside, but the interior is not open to visitors.
Good to know
On the "România Atractivă" programme page the castle is listed as "temporarily closed" and "under rehabilitation"; in reality the restoration works never began and the project was cancelled in May 2025. There are no public opening hours, and the building is in poor condition. Sources describe its present use differently; before travelling, it is worth checking with Sălaj County Council or Jibou Town Hall. On site, the castle can only be seen from outside, respecting the public property.
Information verified on 13 October 2026.
- The neo-Renaissance façade with projecting wings and a wide loggia carrying a terrace between them.
- The isolated setting in an oak forest, 2–3 km from the centre of Jibou.
- The story of the 1903 wedding of Kálmán Béldy and Pálma Wesselényi, for which the castle was built.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the castle is about 2–3 km from the centre of Jibou, in the forest; access is from the DJ108A, in the direction of travel from Jibou towards Someș-Odorhei, along Stejarilor Street, where the road to the complex begins. Jibou is ~45 km from Zalău.
Public transport: Jibou has a railway station on the Cluj-Napoca–Baia Mare line; from there the way to the castle is by car or taxi, or on foot.
- Rules
The building is not open to the public and is in poor condition: do not enter the grounds. Photograph from outside and respect any signs and fences.
Frequently asked questions about Béldy Castle in Jibou
- How long does a visit to Béldy Castle in Jibou take?
- A visit to Béldy Castle in Jibou takes about 30 min (exterior only, estimate).
- How do I get to Béldy Castle in Jibou?
- Béldy Castle in Jibou is located at Strada Stejarilor, la circa 2–3 km de centrul orașului, Jibou, Sălaj County. By car: the castle is about 2–3 km from the centre of Jibou, in the forest; access is from the DJ108A, in the direction of travel from Jibou towards Someș-Odorhei, along Stejarilor Street, where the road to the complex begins. Jibou is ~45 km from Zalău. Public transport: Jibou has a railway station on the Cluj-Napoca–Baia Mare line; from there the way to the castle is by car or taxi, or on foot.
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