Design Details

fixtures and fittings from Germany and the Czech Republic, and specified products from Tom Dixon, Miele and The White Company to deck out the Caretaker’s House.

The family also brought in Stefanie de Castelbajac to oversee the interior design. And once guests step through those historic doors, they’ll find a far more contemporary aesthetic. In the recently completed Corner Barn – the only property that can be booked on a roomby-room basis – a palette of nude, cream and grey makes for an elegant, restful space. Danish Douglas fir floors meet wicker, tan leather and jute accents; bathrooms are adorned with pale marble and terracotta tiles imported from Spain; brass fixtures have been shipped in from Italy; and sumptuous fabrics come courtesy of Romo and Designers Guild. But still, these modern touches have to hold up against a sometimes hostile natural environment, and so snowresistant copper guttering and chimneys have been implemented, red larch panelling protects against the rain, and windows throughout the

estate are double-thickness to endure winter temperatures that can plummet to a bonenumbing minus 28 degrees. Rooms are warmed with underfloor heating as well as traditional wood-burning stoves, for which Gladys worked with a small company in nearby Medias, visiting them multiple times over the years-long project and saving them from the brink of bankruptcy on more than one occasion.

Given the chilly winters, the food overseen by Chef de Cuisine Robert Tordai at The Kitchen Barn is hearty and belly-warming, focusing on traditional Romanian and Hungarian fare; beef goulash is cooked over an open fire on the terrace, while pressed duck and beef cheek are served with baked beetroot salad and pillowy papanasi doughnuts. Breakfast is a spread of homemade bread, local cheeses and meats, and help-yourself fridges are stocked with up-andcoming Romanian wines sourced from nearby Cetatea de Balta.

Activities are offered year-round, and the team can organise snowshoe adventures, heliskiing and e-bike cycling tours. In the long, lilac-washed summer evenings, horse rides, bear spotting and bird watching tours take place in the surrounding area, while the centuries-old forests of Transylvania form the perfect location for a spot of truffle hunting and picnicking.

Looking ahead, the Bethlen family has plans to tear down the old Saxon school house on site and rebuild it – accurately, of course – as new accommodation with a restaurant and swimming pool. The family will also continue to support scholarships at a school in nearby Sighișoara and raise funds for the medical treatment of local children with disabilities. What’s clear is that this will be a life-long passion project for Countess Bethlen and her son. “Before my husband died, he knew every water pipe, every stone and every brick on this estate,” she recalls. “Now, Nikolaus and I are mentally, spiritually, emotionally and financially invested in this project. But it’s not just for us, it’s a product for the future generations. It’s for everyone.” EXPRESS CHECK-OUT Owner: Gladys and Nikolaus Bethlen Operator: Bethlen Estates Interior Design: Stefanie de Castelbajac www.bethlenestates.com