Bánffy Castle in Crossroads restored and open to visitors
Where, when, how much?
Bánffy Castle in Crossroads, commune of Bonțida should not be confused with the village of Bonțida. The castle of Răscruci is located on the main road, on DN1C at number 18. It can be visited daily between 9-22. The full entrance ticket costs RON 15 and the reduced ticket costs RON 3,75. Free parking is available in front of the castle on the main street and on a side street immediately after the castle. The Răscruci railway station, on the Cluj-Napoca - Apahida railway line, is 1 km away.
About Bánffy Castle in Crossroads
Bánffy Castle in Crossroads was renovated and opened to the general public in 2024. It is administered by Cluj County Council, unlike the other castles and properties of the Bánffy family, which are privately owned.
The castle and surrounding land have been owned by the famous Hungarian Bánffy family since 1405. Several representatives of these wealthy families have lived here over the centuries. The most representative personality who lived here was Ádám Bánffy, who gives the castle its present-day architecture. The last heir to the castle was Ádám's son, Baron Albert Bánffy, who became the owner of the castle at the end of the 19th century.
According to visitcluj.ro, the noble Ádám Bánffy, was an atypical figure in the genealogy of this illustrious family. Although he attended the Reformed colleges in Cluj and Berlin, Ádám was not active in politics, but, having artistic inclinations, devoted himself to carpentry. Experts say that the ceiling of the dining hall, the carpentry in the central hall, the wainscoting and some of the furniture inside the castle, as well as the famous green terracotta stove, were made by Ádám himself.
Watch a movie about the castle here
1. Architecture, interiors and sculpture
Bánffy Castle in Crossroads it is built in a neoclassical, eclectic style. it is a one-story, white and symmetrical building, well restored and well emphasized. We enter a large hallway from which we can see the coffered ceiling upstairs and some stained glass windows. There is a large fireplace in the hallway on the right and a stove under the staircase on the left. The staircase and the wooden furniture are carved, presumably by Baron Ádám Bánffy himself. Two bas-reliefs with animal motifs catch my eye.
bas-relief with rabbit
carved wood by Ádám Bánffy
ground floor
bas-relief on display in the castle
view of the vaulted ceiling
fireplace
2. Bánffy family
We go upstairs up the staircase with a solid wood ban banister, after passing through the Renaissance paneled foyer. There are nine columns with capitals depicting vegetal motifs, solid wooden doors and the family coat of arms. The view is of portraits of several members of the noble Bánffy family. Hungarian inscriptions are framed in the wooden parapet. The ceiling of the castle is made of castellated wood. The dark brown color of the lacquered wood contrasts with the interior walls of the building. From upstairs we can look down to the ground floor to see the fireplace from above. Among the well-known family names are György Bánffy I, György Bánffy II, Ferenc Bánffy, Dénes Bánffy, Ádám Bánffy and Albert Bánffy.
Ádám Bánffy is the one who left his mark on the castle's current appearance, his passion for carving prompted him to open a workshop here and it is said that he personally carved the wooden motifs we see on the ground floor. Ádám Bánffy has been transforming the interior of the castle since 1875, creating the wooden coffered ceiling and the dining room, the parquet flooring, the terracotta stove and the Neo-Renaissance furniture in the reception hall. Albert Bánffy was Ádám's son and the last owner of the castle.
Ádám Bánffy
Peace to those who enter, good health to those who leave
representatives of the Bánffy family
members of the Bánffy family
coffered ceiling and statue
3. Green terracotta stove
The green terracotta stove is the palace's most attractive exhibit. It is said that the stove would still be functional if it was connected to the chimney and the chimney was cleaned. The stove depicts scenes from Hungarian history: the election of Arpad, the founding of Hungary, the Ópusztaszer Assembly and scenes from the Battle of Mohács in 1526. The stove is on display in the ground floor hall, where above the door we read the Latin phrase "salus intrantibus, pax exeuntibus", meaning "Safety to those who enter, peace to those who leave".
bas-relief on the stove
scenes from the stove
green terracotta stove
4. Marcel Lupșe temporary exhibition
Marcel Lupșe is a local artist, born in Dej, who is presenting a very interesting temporary exhibition on the first floor of the castle. His works can be grouped into a few themes: dandelions, dried plant bundles and spikes, herbaria.
bundles of dried aromatic herbs
dandelions
crate of dried aromatic herbs
paintings of dried plants
temporary exhibition upstairs
5. Balcony and fountain
Upstairs you can also exit from the balcony at the back of the castle. From the castle's balcony you can see the entire Bánffy estate of 4.5 ha, 881 square meters of which are built on. Below the balcony is a fountain flanked by large pots supported by stone carvings of lions. From the balcony we look out over the lake and the park, where we'll descend later.
pots guarded by lions
Castle in the back
lake and park
castle balcony
6. Park and lake
The park is landscaped with paths, benches and is clean. There is a lot of grass, there are a few trees. In front of the castle there is a long lake, crossed by 2 bridges, in the middle of which is a columbar. A wooden platform over the lake allows you to relax. Further behind the park is a playground.
view from the park towards the castle
playground
bridge over the lake
path through the park
the lake and the dovecote
castle courtyard
Conclusions
Bánffy Castle in Crossroads impressed us very much. It is renovated, you can visit inside where you can admire the green terracotta stove and the carved wooden furniture, and outside the park and the lake. Visit Bánffy Castle in Crossroads.
English 
Română 
Deutsch 
