The legends and mysteries around the Citadel of Colțești and the Rimetea Sunrise
If only I’d known the legend beforehand maybe we wouldn’t have adventured so high up or yes?! Anyhow, once you’ve reached Colțești and you take a glance at the citadel, you just need to be there, you know?!
Only yeah, instead of the easy path walk, we just left the car at the base of the hill and challenged ourselves to climb the unforgiving stone cold walls of the castle.
Technically, it’s not much to climb but if there was indeed a real need to certify the unattainability of an siege over the Torocko castle, besides the goats and the sheep, well: it didn’t really have to be us. Man it was tough. Not to the herds around but on us.
Anyhow, the sheep and the goats come first in the realm. Mainly because the citadel grass makes their milk turn into cheese wonders just like that! Torockoi cheeses and heavy cream are known all the way to Manchester and back, and have their own fair display at «Gobefest» bringing Hungarian art and culture from allover, right on to British tables.
Enough is enough about goat’s cheese, let’s come back to the mysteries around the Citadel, Torockay Count and the Sekely Stone
The story goes as far as the count’s days, by the time he rebelled against the house of Habsburg, the castle was destroyed in the 1700 by the imperial troops. And no further that 4 km away, on the Rimeti hill, he built another citadel. Unfortunately there is nothing to be seen in our days.
Anyhow, the two were united by an underground tunnel. The access to this tunnel was through the roman-catholic church in Rimetea.
Also, it is said that the tunnel made it’s way to the wine cellars which were supposed filled with rich noble wines of great value.
And this is where the legends are born from:
- First legend says:
That «whomever searches for the wines, never returns».
- Second legend says:
The citadel is haunted by the counts’ daughter, Enikö. She was hidden in the tundle, together with all the children and women, during a rebellion, while the count was out for help. Enikö is said have gone out to search for her father but as she saw many enemies taking over the castle she killed herself believing her father must have died in battle.
Long story short, according the legend, we stood against Enikö’s ghost, that haunts the hills getting revenge on people trying to climb up to the castle.
But, I guess she got it that we were really peaceful. Or maybe just full. Of how much we ate at the Sekely House.
We stuffed ourselves with a meaty pancake dish, each, and half a sweet fresh cheese dumplings. And even if the prices were a bit high, the food is really good, the portions are huge and the view really justifies them.
As you’re having lunch, the entire valley unravels it’s self before your eyes. So does the sleepy Sekely guy 😉
Which remind me of the third legend or saying, or story that says In Rimetea, the Sun rises twice! Once it rises behind the Horizon and the second time behind the Sekely Stone.
And If you don’t believe in fairytales we’ll do this:
We get accommodated in one of the many houses in the Lower Lane or the Upper Lane, for a couple of nights.
It really doesn’t matter which house you rent, for the entire Rimetea village is rebuilt so that one can enjoy the old genuine, sekely feeling. It’s not a small thing to be included in the UNESCO patrimony.
And the prices are so affordable: for example prices per night per person vary from 40 lei at Agi Guest House, 35 lei in Piroska GuestHouse and back to 40 lei in Kristaly Guest House.
We are definitely going back in the springtime for during the winter most of the houses are closed. Unfortunately, the same goes for the Museum or the restaurants.
And most probably, by the end of the weekend, we’ll check out Cluj for some cabbage.
So, I have to let you read now for I have to plan the next weekend adventures! Cheers!