Mikes Castle

The Mikes-castle in Zăbala/Zabola was first mentioned in Miklós Mikó’s diary. The wedding of Lázár Apor and Judit Imecs was celebrated here on February 2, 1629. The highly noble event was also attended by Gábor Bethlen. The general assemblies of the Treiscaune/Háromszék region were often held within the walls of the castle.

The renaissance grange is, actually, the most important part of the castle today, its picture prior to restoration – a two-story building with a verandah, covered with a tall tented roof – being published by Balázs Orbán.

The present-day shape of the castle was given in 1867 when earl Benedek Mikes had an attic added to it and a penthouse was built in the roof area thus rendering a more special image to it as the verandah was also heightened with a floor. The walls of the ground-floor were pulled down in order to have an open gateway, as well.

Except for the portal of the entrance, the lower two stores of the castle are arched, with irregular through vaults to be seen on the ground floor and regular ones above.

Another ornament of the Mikes estate in Zăbala/Zabola is the still preserved beautiful park. The setting of the English garden with a water-stream, alleys, a tennis court, terraces and flower-beds may very well be reconstructed according to the archive photos and the reconstruction plan dated 1930. Achille Duchéne, the famous French landscapist used to work here, as well.