Lazar Castle

The Lazar Castle is only 200 meters away from the center of the village. The Lazars were one of the most famous Catholic noble families in the Székely community, who had an important part in the history of Transylvania, especially in the 16^th – 18^th centuries. The history of the manor, built in the 15^th century, continuously expanded, later replaced by a castle is closely connected to the family history.

The predecessor of the present building complex dates back to the 15^th century and was not on few occasions rebuilt during the 16^th and 17^th centuries. The biggest reconstruction took place in the 17^th century, when the building was shaped like a Renaissance castle. This construction process, that took place around 1629 and 1631, is connected to Lázár István (the son of Lázár András), who grew up together with Bethlen Gábor and was made ruler of Ciuc, Gheorgheni and Caşin units. The protection wall was then finished, having a regular rectangular shape, bearing typical Renaissance frontispiece decorations, Italian bastions and corner towers. The south-eastern tower of the castle has many decorations; the Red Tower is the result of a construction process that took place later, in the 17^th century.

During the Rákóczi's War for Independence, the building complex was burnt, the loggia Renaissance building being destroyed and rebuilt in the courtyard. Thanks to Francisc VI, the fire was followed by reconstruction: a two-floor building at the gate, a Baroque style building wing for living on the north façade. The latter one doesn’t exist nowadays.

Along the southern wall, there is the Women’s house, while on the eastern side, there is the former central building, where the Council Room (Knights’ Room) is, but this latter one is a product of the 20^th century reconstruction.

In 1748 and 1872 new incidents caused damage to the building that was only partially restored. The last inhabitants of the castle were count Lázár Zsigmond and his wife, until 1853.

Nowadays, Lázár Castle is administered by the Lăzarea Centre for Culture and Art, an institution under the tutelage of the Harghita Department Council. Since 1974 the monument has been hosting an artists’ colony, year after year, which has acquired international fame, increasing the castle’s touristic and cultural value.