Coltău (Koltó in Hungarian) is a village in Maramureș, known mainly for the Teleki Castle (belonging to the count Sándor Teleki) where Petőfi Sándor (the national poet of Hungary) has spent his honeymoon (1847) and wrote 28 new poems. The village was first attested in 1405 as Kolcho, and its name probably comes either from “cotlon” (“recess, hollow” in Romanian, some sort of hiding place) or from “katlan” (“kettle, cauldron” in Hungarian, relating to a smelter, since its founders were apparently coal burners). The Teleki Castle is now a museum. The majority of the surrounding inhabitants are Hungarian and the entire place feels completely cut from Romania, both as order, cleanliness and style. It was a pleasant trip.

Entering the garden.

Clean and orderly.

A detail of the façade.

Some words.

A monument.

Behind the castle there is a great view of the mountains.

A detail of the north-east view towards Baia Sprie and Baia Mare.

The village is rather close to Baia Mare. Here is the view directly to the north.

Beautiful nature.

The north-west view towards Satu Mare.

Another nice view.

The view to the west with another part of the castle, now a school (Petőfi Sándor Általános Iskola).

Back in the garden.

A statue with the two lovers…

A detail of the statue.

The museum seen from a different angle.

The exit with a traditional Maramureș gate and the Reformed Church of Coltău behind it.

The castle as seen from outside with the sign for “museum”.