With my purely Austrian background I married the Hungarian Count Miklós Bethlen, who spent his childhood in the Castle of Cris (Kreisch or Keresd). Although his properties were confiscated, he never lost his deeply emotional attachment to his beloved Transylvania. Already during communism, we travelled regularly to Cris, giving me and our children Katalin and Miklós the chance to fall in love with the unspoilt nature of this country, its endless beauty, its people and heritage.

The turning point came when Miklós, following his father’s footsteps, started purchasing several abandoned houses and farmsteads in his ancestral lands to invite likeminded people from all over the world to join and to experience for themselves.

In 2015 under my direction, we started converting the charming 300-year old dwellings into impeccable guesthouses by successfully combining our design vision with locally sourced master artisanship.

For some six months of the year and with all my heart, I continue working to create this haven of beauty and tranquillity for our guests and their wellbeing to share with them our philosophy of life in this history-laden country.