Săvârșin Castle
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox Historic building
|name = Săvârșin Castle
Castelul Săvârșin
|image = File:Castelul Regal de la Savarsin3.jpg
|caption = Front right view of the Castle.
|map_type =
|latitude =
|longitude =
|location_town = Royal Domain of Săvârșin, Săvârșin, Arad County
|location_country = Romania
|address =
|architect = Restoration:
[http://www.arhiforum.ro/arhitecti/serban-sturdza Serban Sturdza]
[http://www.planwerkcluj.org/team.php?memberId=8 Eugen Pănescu]
[http://www.cncs-nrc.ro/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/Augustin-IOAN-CV-ENGLEZA.pdf Augustin Ioan]
David Baxter
|client = {{List collapsed|title=See list|3=1st Time:
Count Forray András
2nd Time:
United Principalities
3rd Time:
King Michael I of the Romanians}}
|owner = Romanian Royal Family
|current_tenants = Official Romanian Countryside Residence of the Romanian Royal Family
|coordinates =
|engineer =
|construction_start_date = {{List collapsed|title=See list|1=First Time:
1650
Renovation:
1840
Restoration:
May 2007}}
|completion_date = {{List collapsed|title=See list|2=First Time:
1680
Renovation:
1878
Restoration:
October 2015}}
|inauguration_date = 27 October 2015{{Cite web|url=http://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/ceremonia-de-astazi-la-castelul-regal-savarsin-in-imagini/|title=Ceremonia de la Castelul Regal Săvârșin, în imagini | Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania}}
|date_demolished = 1781
|cost =
|structural_system =
|style = Neoclassical
|size =
}}
Săvârșin Castle ({{Langx|ro|Castelul Săvârșin}}, {{IPAc-ro|pron|S|ă|v|â|r|'|ș|i|n}}) is a large country house situated in Săvârșin Park, a {{convert|6.5|hectare|acre|adj=on}} private estate that was owned by King Michael I of the Romanians (1921–2017) in Săvârșin, Arad County, Romania.
It is the Romanian Royal Family’s official country residence where the statutes defining the role and powers of the royal family are signed.{{cite web |url=http://www.tkinter.smig.net/QueenMarie/NewRules/index.htm |title=Queen Marie of Romania / The New Fundamental Rules of the Romanian Dynasty |accessdate=2008-03-20 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080320020314/http://www.tkinter.smig.net/QueenMarie/NewRules/index.htm |archivedate=2008-03-20 }} King Michael I and Queen Anne spent their annual Christmas holidays here following the castle's restitution to royal ownership, a tradition continued by Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown.{{Cite web|url=http://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/dubasii-alaturi-de-locuitorii-comunei-alaturi-de-familia-regala-in-ajun-de-craciun/|title=Dubașii, alături de locuitorii comunei, alături de Familia Regală în Ajun de Crăciun {{!}} Familia Regală a României / Royal Family of Romania|website=www.romaniaregala.ro|language=en-US|access-date=2017-12-26}} Since 2021 the castle grounds and King Michael's collection of WW2 Jeeps have been open to the public during the summer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.savarsinregal.ro|title=The Website of Savarsin Royal Estate|access-date=2021-08-19}}
History
Formerly known as Forray Castle, Săvârșin was owned by various Hungarian noble families for three centuries during the territory owned by the Kingdom of Hungary{{Cite web|url=https://blogdesavarsin.wordpress.com/castelul-regal-savarsin/|title = Castelul Regal Savarsin|date = 25 November 2010}}{{Cite web|url=https://castlelifeblog.wordpress.com/castlefortress/castle/savarsin-castle/|title=Savarsin Castle|date=July 2013}} until the Union of Transylvania with Romania. In mid-18th century, at the center of the estate on which the current royal castle lies, there was a building raised in western baroque style (dating from 1680), that belonged to the Edelspacher de Gyorok noble family. After having been set on fire in November 1784 by the peasants in the uprise led by Horia, Closca and Crisan, and needed being restored from the foundations, the castle had various owners, till 1858 when it became the possession of Leopold Count Nádasdy de Nádasd et Fogarasföld, the one who re-built it in its present form in 1860.{{Cite web|url=http://www.agerpres.ro/engleza-destinatie-romania/2014/11/28/destination-romania-savarsin-castle-in-arad-royal-house-only-genuinely-private-romanian-possession-11-40-02|title=DESTINATION: ROMANIA/Savarsin Castle in Arad - Royal House only genuinely private Romanian}}
In 1941, following an exchange of properties, the castle became the property of the Mocioni-Starcea family, who prepared the castle for so-called "crown weekends". In 1943, the castle became the property of King Michael I, who was the king of Romania at that time and bought the castle from the Crown property as a gift for his mother Queen Helen.
=Nationalization and later usage=
The castle was nationalized by the communist authorities after King Michael's abdication in 1947. Consequently, it was used as a hospital for internal diseases, a tuberculosis sanatorium and nervous disorders sanatorium until 1967, when Romanian leader Nicolae Ceaușescu decided to turn it into a guest house for visiting heads of state.{{Cite web|url=http://www.agerpres.ro/engleza-destinatie-romania/2014/11/28/destination-romania-savarsin-castle-in-arad-royal-house-only-genuinely-private-romanian-possession-11-40-02|title=DESTINATION: ROMANIA/Savarsin Castle in Arad - Royal House only genuinely private Romanian}}
=Return to ownership=
In 2000 the High Court of Cassation and Justice declared that the entire property and land was to be restored to King Michael I.{{cite web |url=http://www.romaniajournal.ro/savarsin-castle-in-arad-has-new-look-after-8-years-of-restoration-works/ |title=Savarsin Castle in Arad has new look after 8 years of restoration works {{!}} The Romania Journal |website=www.romaniajournal.ro |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151103022932/http://www.romaniajournal.ro/savarsin-castle-in-arad-has-new-look-after-8-years-of-restoration-works/ |archive-date=2015-11-03}} {{Cite web|url=http://m.mediafax.ro/cultura-media/restaurarea-castelului-savarsin-executata-dupa-jurnalul-reginei-elena-a-costat-peste-1-milion-de-euro-foto-14864721|title=Restaurarea Castelului Săvârşin, executată după jurnalul Reginei Elena, a costat peste 1 milion de euro - FOTO}} On certain occasions, the royal estate is open to the public and the building can be seen from a closer distance.{{cite web |url=http://www.familiaregala.ro/resedinte/domeniul-regal-savarsin |title=Castelul Regal de la Săvârșin |website=www.familiaregala.ro |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506053420/http://www.familiaregala.ro/resedinte/domeniul-regal-savarsin |archive-date=2015-05-06}} Traditionally, the royal family spends the winter holidays at Savârșin, on which occasion many groups come to sing carols for the former sovereign and the royal family. The carol singers come from the nearby villages, but also from other communities in Arad county as well as from the neighbouring counties of Alba, Hunedoara, and Timiș. On Christmas Day, the family members take part in the religious service at the Orthodox church in the village.{{Cite web|url=http://adevarul.ro/locale/arad/familia-regala-romaniei-petrece-craciunul-savarsin-1_5669da4d7d919ed50e184844/index.html|title = Familia Regală a României va petrece Crăciunul la Săvârşin}}{{cite web |url=http://www.familiaregala.ro/stiri/articol/craciunul-la-savarsin-1 |title=Craciunul la Savarsin |website=www.familiaregala.ro |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222100529/http://www.familiaregala.ro/stiri/articol/craciunul-la-savarsin-1 |archive-date=2015-12-22}}
Public opening
On 10 May (Monarchy Day) 2021 Margareta, Custodian of the Romanian Crown, formally opened the grounds and Royal Automobile Museum to the public.{{Cite web|url=https://www.romaniaregala.ro/jurnal/10-mai-in-direct-de-la-castelul-regal-savarsin/|title=10 Mai, la Castelul Regal Săvârșin|access-date=2021-08-19}} The park and gardens,{{Cite web|url=https://savarsinregal.ro/parcul-regal/|title=The Royal Park|access-date=2021-08-19}} King Michael's collection of World War II Jeeps,{{Cite web|url=https://savarsinregal.ro/muzeul-regal-al-automobilului/|title=Royal Automobile Museum|access-date=2021-08-19}} his recreated car workshop{{Cite web|url=https://savarsinregal.ro/a-fost-inaugurat-atelierul-auto-al-regelui-mihai/|title=King Michael's Car Workshop Inaugurated|access-date=2021-08-19}} and the royal courtyard{{Cite web|url=https://savarsinregal.ro/satul-regal/|title=The Royal Courtyard|access-date=2021-08-19}} are now open to the public during the summer months.
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{coord|46|00|56.25|N|22|14|08.23|E|type:landmark|display=title}}
External links
- [https://savarsinregal.ro/ Savarsin Royal Estate Official Website]
- [https://casamajestatiisale.ro/familia-regala/fundatia-colectia-familiei-regale-a-romaniei/ Romanian Royal Family Collection Foundation]
{{Palaces and castles in Romania}}
{{Castles in Romania}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Savarsin Castle}}
Category:20th century in Transylvania
Category:Royal residences in Romania