This has to the strangest and most original building in Romania, it's unusual architecture and especially it's fascinating history making it a major cultural landmark and tourist objective. It is a pity to come to Campina and miss this place, as a visit here is an experience to be remembered. Over the years this place has drawn it's share of controversies, mainly due to the stories and legends, but this is one more reason to come here.
Also known as the "Temple of the Spirit", it was built in 1893 - 1896 by one of the most important Romanian intelectuals of the 19th century, Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu, one of those rich, universal minds, with a diverse and strong culture and great literary and scientific talent. This small castle, built specifically according to Hasdeu's own vision and plans, is dedicated to the memory of his daughter, Iulia Hasdeu, who had died of tuberculosis in 1888, at just 19 years of age. Rather than being just a homage to his beloved daughter, Hasdeu actually made it some sort of a temple, according to his spiritis and ocult beliefs, in order for him to be able to communicate with the spirit of Iulia Hasdeu. Actually, in the middle hall of the castle there is not only a large wooden statue of Jesus Christ, made by the French sculptor Casciani, but also the bust of the writer's daughter.
The architecture of the museum/castle is simply strange, with a medieval strong touch, many rooms, stained-glass windows, several occult inscriptions, symbols and images, artworks and the likes. The collection on display brings together a large part of the heritage left by Hasdeu : several portraits of the father and daughter, a major selection from Hasdeu's archives, including his spiritist research and experiences, most of his original plans and sketches for the castle, some rare editions of his works and of his daughter's. It is a splendid, yet a little creepy example of the researcher's passion for misticism and occult, and the legend says that Hasdeu actually managed to receive several messages from his dead daughter, which he thoroughly recorded and kept, trying to find the answers to fundamental questions.
The museum was opened in July 1897 to all visitors, while Hasdeu was still living, and several times he actually acted as a guide, presenting the most important exhibits and talking about his spiritual and occult experiences, which caused a great lot of controversies. After World War One, with the help of his family, the museum was finally all ready for his visitors, and in the 1930s it also had a team of curators, guides and experts, as it's popularity continued to grow. Abandoned after 1947, in no small part due to the conflict between Hasdeu's convictions and the official communist policy, it was once again reopened in 1958, due to the efforts of George Calinescu.
Nowadays it remains one of the most popular tourist objectives in the country and in the region. Many come here to learn more about the tragic life and demise of Iulia, considered by many a real genius, others to discover the personality of Hasdeu the scientist, poet, researcher, writer and journalist. Above all, the unusual arhictecture, eerie atmosphere and strange legend of the castle makes it worth your while.
2008-04-03
