Romanian village joins Hungarian-Slovak cultural route

A Transylvanian village has joined the Hungarian-Slovak initiative to create a cultural route linking historic castles once owned by the Hungarian Andrassy noble family, the local paper Kronika reported on Monday.

[MTI] The local council of Sancraieni from Transylvania has signed an agreement to join the project and become part of the route, next to Tiszadob and Monok in Hungary and the castles of Betliar, Krasnohorske Podhradie and Trebisov in Slovakia.

Sancraieni Mayor Erno Szekely said the Andrassy Manor built in the 16th century will need to be reconstructed because currently only a 45-metre stretch of wall is standing. However, the surrounding walls will be excavated and the original size of the structure will be assessed, he added.

Historian Maria Gal said the Andrassy family was considered one of the most important noble families in the region before the 17th century, but they had to leave Transylvania after participating in a plot against the local ruler Istvan Bathory.

The Andrassy cultural route was initiated by local councils in Hungary and Slovakia and once completed, it is expected to receive the European Cultural Route title.