Báthory Castle

The Báthory family obtained the original fortress in the 14th century when a member of the family married the inheritor of the estate. The fortress remained in the possession of the family until the 17th century. Subsequently, during the Habsburg domination in Transylvania, the fortress was abandoned.

The fortress had two fortified enclosures, built in two stages (13th-14th centuries, respectively after the 16th century). The Renaissance-style castle itself was square shaped, with three round bastions, and a two-tiered gate tower, still visible today. Two towers, a bastion, and part of the defensive walls are still preserved. The fortress played an important role in the family's connection to the West, being on the Salt Route, respectively on the trading route that connected Transylvania with Vienna in the Middle Ages.

Several members took the reins of the principality of Transylvania, starting with Ştefan Báthory II of Simleu in 1529. Probably the most important figure is that of Ştefan Bathory (III), who also became king of Poland, in 1575. The Báthory family made important contributions to Transylvanian culture, and the foundation of the University of Cluj is also linked to Ştefan Bathory's name.

On the other hand, a series of legends revolve around the Báthory name, some of them competing with that of Count Dracula. One says that Anna, one of the daughters of Ștefan Báthory II of Simleu, was into black magic and that she insisted to bathe in the blood of young virgins to preserve her youth. Her daughter, Elisabeta (Erszebet) Báthory is said to have taken this pleasure to the next level. For her acts of cruelty, she went down in history with the nickname "bloody countess".

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