Ugron Castle in Zau de Câmpie
About Ugron Castle in Zau de Câmpie
The castle at Zau de Câmpie, also known as the “Calendar Castle”, was built between 1908 and 1912 for Baron István Ugron, a diplomat in Austro-Hungarian service and former ambassador in St Petersburg. The final plans are by the Cluj architect Lajos Pákei, based on sketches by János Bánffy, the owner's brother-in-law. The building blends Neo-Gothic and Romantic elements in an eclectic composition and is counted among the last historicist castles raised in Transylvania.
Its name comes from the numbers tied to its construction: 365 windows, 4 towers and 52 rooms, matching the days, seasons and weeks of the year. A local legend says the baron built it out of love for a daughter of the tsar. After nationalisation in 1948 the castle was a grain store, a school, an agricultural high school and, from 1963 until 2012, a girls' children's home. It has stood empty since. Owned by Mureș County Council, it has been administered by the Mureș County Museum since 2017–2018, and in 2023 it was put up for sale, on condition that the buyer restore it and include it on the tourist circuit.
What you can see
From the park and the road you can see the ochre main façade, with its Gothic surround and large rose window above the entrance, the Ugron family coat of arms in the central gable, the towers with conical roofs, and the terrace with arches and columns on the garden side. The condition of the building is also visible: only the main façade has been partly repaired, while the rest shows fallen plaster and exposed brick. The interior cannot be visited.
Good to know
On the “România Atractivă” programme page the castle is listed as “Temporarily closed”, with no reason given; public sources show there are no visiting hours and that access to the building is not organised. In past years guided visits run by associations and events in the grounds took place occasionally (for example the peony festival in April 2024). The information on the sale and restoration dates from 2023; the outcome was not found in the press.
Information verified on 13 October 2026.
- The main façade, with the large Gothic rose window and the Ugron coat of arms in the gable.
- The arcaded terrace with columns on the garden side.
- The story of the “calendar castle”: 365 windows, 4 towers, 52 rooms.
- The contrast between the historicist ornament and today's neglected state.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the castle is in the village of Zau de Câmpie (Mureș County), ~33 km as the crow flies from Târgu Mureș and ~45 km from Cluj-Napoca; choose the exact route in your navigation app, with “Castelul Ugron” as the destination.
Public transport: the timetable of services to Zau de Câmpie should be checked with the transport operators; from Târgu Mureș or Cluj-Napoca the car is the simplest option.
- Where to park
The administrator does not announce a laid-out car park; people stop on the access road, taking care not to block the gate.
- Fees & discounts
No ticket is charged, as there is no organised visiting. Any occasional guided visits are priced by their organisers.
- Rules
The building is in an advanced state of decay and cannot be entered. Keep your distance from the walls and terraces, do not climb on the ruins, and respect the fence and the gate. Photography from outside is allowed; use drones only in line with the rules in force.
Frequently asked questions about Ugron Castle in Zau de Câmpie
- How long does a visit to Ugron Castle in Zau de Câmpie take?
- A visit to Ugron Castle in Zau de Câmpie takes about 20 min (estimate, exterior only).
- How do I get to Ugron Castle in Zau de Câmpie?
- Ugron Castle in Zau de Câmpie is located at Strada Parcului nr. 10, Zau de Câmpie, Mureș County. By car: the castle is in the village of Zau de Câmpie (Mureș County), ~33 km as the crow flies from Târgu Mureș and ~45 km from Cluj-Napoca; choose the exact route in your navigation app, with “Castelul Ugron” as the destination. Public transport: the timetable of services to Zau de Câmpie should be checked with the transport operators; from Târgu Mureș or Cluj-Napoca the car is the simplest option.
- When is the best time to visit Ugron Castle in Zau de Câmpie?
- The best season for Ugron Castle in Zau de Câmpie: April – October (nicer when the park is green).
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