Castle Iacobeni (Romania) Price: $ 1,046,900 USD

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Bedrooms 7  Bathrooms 8  Land 2 ha

In the forests of Transylvania, 100 km from Brasov and Targu Mures, a manicured hedge reminiscent of the perfection of Versailles guides the steps to a petit chateau . At the end of the alley the gaze stops on a building like a piece of France moved to the Harghita Mountains. In reality, the architecture is tributary to the Transylvanian style of Kos Karoly, the architect born in the region and acclaimed co-author of a prestigious Budapest neighborhood. The property is practically a contemporary castle for a new type of castellan, one that values ​​ the refinement of the classic style, the privacy offered by 20,000 sq m of wooded land and the change of seasons. In winter the immaculate snow casts a gray-blue light mirroring the sky, and the snowy tower stands guard beside the trees surrounding the building like a defensive wall; the snow erases the contemporary leaving room for a medieval thrill. Autumn, on the other hand, contrasts the subtle refinement of architecture with the smoky burgundy of deciduous forest. Budding makes the branches crack in spring, and in summer the same coniferous and deciduous leaves bring breeze and coolness.
The building is projected on the sky, yet it does not overwhelm with arrogance but with the elegance of the shades and the aesthetics of the lines. The white masonry is embraced by solid stone and blue-gray carpentry; the caramel-colored wood accents punctuate the railing area and the terrace furniture. The 17m-high tower offers a 360 degree panorama over the surrounding endless forest (although it is located in a small locality, the property enjoys the peace of isolation). Inside, the tower has walls clad in French blue wood paneling and a stylized spiral staircase that, seen from above, opens like slices of a Dobos Torte; accordingly, the light that falls on them is reflected on the walls like a liquid caramel.
The building preserves the wide steps and the platform entrance of the old residences where the guests were greeted by all of people of the house, owners and staff alike. The interior is intimate, the partitions are designed to bring the family together, the rooms manage to stay warm and welcoming. Classic solid wood furniture pieces in warm colors, paintings, hunting trophies and elegant lighting fixtures (the latest made by the craftsman of the Vienna Opera) are carefully chosen and discreetly displayed to build a warm family atmosphere. In the living room there is a coffered ceiling, an impressive travertine fireplace decorated with a marble bust and wonderful pendulum wall clocks, made of carved wood. The property highlights valuable local resources - stone and wood - and completes them exquisitely with a few statues on the outside and other discreet valuables on the inside. Everything revolves around wood and the interior staircase is another homage to Kos Karoly and his Transylvanian style.
Statuary and refined, the castle retains an intimate, friendly character also due to its size (the built area is 620 sqm). There are 6 bedrooms with private bathroom (their number can be supplemented through the attic partitioning), a dining room for 12 people, breakfast room, an orangery and large terraces, office, gym and table tennis, dressing room and dedicated hunting room (with a safety box for keeping the guns).
The building has technical spaces and rooms for its staff, all with generous surfaces and state-of-the-art technical equipment. Moreover, the outbuildings are integrated into the landscape both practically and aesthetically; a special mention deserves the cellar dug in the ground, thus taking advantage of the constant temperature required for wine storage.
Separately there is a pavilion for 25 people with barbecue area, bread oven and goulash kettle plus a garden of organic vegetables on 900 sqm. As no castle deserves its name without horses, le petit chateau has a stable and its outbuildings for two horses, in addition to the barn and the car garage.