Castelul Sükösd-Bethlen Racoș

Current status (checked 12 October 2026)

The castle is a historic monument in a semi-ruined state. The register of forgotten monuments lists it as having no current use, and a visitor's account from August 2025 says the exterior looks good, but the interior cannot be used and entry is at your own risk. Another, undated source mentions access to the courtyard only on request. Do not expect a fitted-out museum.

A Renaissance castle of the Sükösd and Bethlen families

The first inventory, from 1636, records a building with three rooms, put up between 1594 and 1603 on the orders of István Sükösd and later extended by György Sükösd; an inscription on the western tower names the latter as builder, in 1624. After 1694 the estate passed to Count Sámuel Bethlen, and the castle took its present form; the family crest on the gatehouse bears the year 1700.

What you see

The castle has a square plan, with buildings set against the inside of three of the defensive walls and corner towers that underline its defensive role. In the communist period it was used as a stable and grain store and was partly demolished; the 1977 earthquake badly damaged it, and the north-east tower was demolished. It was partly restored in the 1990s. It stands in a park in the centre of the village, and there is free parking in front of it.

Opening hours and prices (checked 12 October 2026)

There are no published hours for the castle itself. Brașov Tourism lists for Racoș, in March 2026, the hours 1 November–31 March 09:00–17:00, 1 April–31 August 09:00–20:00 and 1 September–31 October 09:00–17:00, with a ticket of 10 lei for adults and 5 lei for children (groups: 8 and 4 lei). These are, however, the same figures as for the Racoș Geological Complex, so it is not clear whether they also apply to the castle; an account from 2022 described a joint ticket for the castle and the geological sites. Check on site.

Getting there

From MAX International, drive through Brașov on the European road E60 towards Sighișoara, and at Rupea Gară turn off towards Racoș; from there it is about 10 kilometres to the village. The castle is in the centre of the village, close to the main road, and the Racoș Geological Complex, with its basalt columns and the Emerald Lake, is nearby and can be combined on the same day. You can see the exact distance and time with the navigation buttons on this page.