Romania has plenty of unique attractions, and today I will tell you about one of the most recent ones – the Fairy Valley Clay Castle, known locally as Castelul Valea Zânelor.
Located in the Porumbacu de Sus village, this unique building lets you spend a night in (or more), enjoy delicious food on its grounds and be amazed by Romania’s beauty – both natural and man-made.
Let’s see what makes this location special and why you should put it on your list if you happen to be in Romania, especially near Sibiu.
Quick Facts
- Location: Porumbacu de Sus, 40 kilometers west of Sibiu (marked here on Google Maps)
- Accommodation: 10 unique eco-boutique rooms and apartments available for overnight stays.
- Amenities: Free private parking, EV charging stations, and an on-site à la carte restaurant.
- Bonus: Regular events, like classical music concerts, wine tasting & more
The Story Behind the Clay Castle
Commonly known as the “Fairy Tale Clay Castle” here in Romania, and previously named The Fairy Valley Clay Castle (Castelul Valea Zanelor), its new official name is less pompous – The Clay Castle.
No matter how you call it, it remains spectacular due to its unique design that took years to finish.
Built by a family of two, it was created exclusively with natural, eco-friendly materials. They used mostly clay, river stone, and straw.
The family who built it decided to put their corporate life behind and risk it all by investing in this castle situated in an area that nobody had really heard of before – Porumbacu de Sus.
That happened back in 2014, and it seems that it was a great call, because nowadays the area itself is very touristy and the castle is the crown jewel of the area.
I think that the story behind it makes it even more impressive – especially when looking at the results.
It proves that a bit of imagination and a lot of hard work can take you a long way. And you don’t necessarily need an army of people to build something truly amazing…
Fun fact: everything that you will see built within the Fairy Tale Clay Castle in Romania is created by hand!
Every chair, every table… everything is unique and manually crafted. I don’t think that there are many places in the world that can offer this!
On the premises, you have the castle itself and the amazing garden of the fairies, but also free parking and an amazing playground for kids.
Sleeping in a Fairy Tale
Even though this was delayed for years, you can now sleep in one of the 10 rooms of the castle.
Actually, the castle now functions as an exclusive Eco Boutique Guesthouse – you can step right out of your room directly into the castle courtyard.
What I absolutely love about the accommodation is its commitment to organic living. The thick clay walls naturally regulate the indoor temperature.
You will stay cool during the hot summer months without a single air conditioning unit, while the winters remain warm.
They also offer something unique in Romania: a dedicated Sleep Menu. Basically, you get a handcrafted wellness ritual, as all the bedding materials were curated using natural fibers, from the toppers and pillows to the duvets.
The Handmade À La Carte Restaurant
As I said – everything here is made by hand and unique. Fortunately, the same goes about the restaurant present on the premise.
Even though a bit pricey (but, hey, you’re eating in fairies’ land!), the on-site restaurant serves reimagined local dishes à la carte. Best part (apart the tasty food): you will sit on custom-built chairs, eat with manually forged iron cutlery, and drink coffee from espresso cups that are unique from one another.
Beyond the Castle “Walls”
If you decide to spend a few nights here, the property offers a variety of private experiences to keep you active.
You can book horseback riding lessons, arrange a horse-drawn carriage or sleigh ride depending on the season, and rent mountain bikes to explore the nearby Făgăraș Mountain foothills.
You just need to request these activities in advance (ideally when booking) so the staff can prepare everything.
Of course, you can also visit for a day-stay, or at least for a few hours (and a nice meal). It’s totally worth it – if not for the nature, then for the truly Instagrammable photo opportunities.
You can find out more about this beautiful place on their official website or the Facebook page.
If you’re looking for even more impressive and unique places to see in Romania, I’ve already talked about the Color Forest near Targu Jiu, the renowned Bigar Waterfall, but also other attractions in the country. And I promise to share even more in the future!
What do you think about the Fairy Vallet Castle in Romania? Is this a place you’d like to visit or, even better, spend a few nights in?
I am a journalist and local expert who has been documenting life in Romania since 2013. Based in Constanta (after living in Bucharest and Drobeta Turnu Severin), I provide up-to-date, on-the-ground advice for expats and travelers. My articles are based on real life experiences and plenty of research – from paying Romanian bills to exploring the wild “Rawmania” countryside.
I would love to visit this fairytale castle. Looking at the pictures, I picture Goldilocks and Hansel and Gretel. It looks like a kiddie delight. I certainly wouldn’t mind spending a night or two, and yep..take lots of photos 🙂 .
Indeed! And even more amazing is that the whole thing has been created and mostly built by just two people. This proves that if you really want something, you can surely make it happen!
It reminds me a little of the creations of the Austrian architect Hundertwasser. I think that type of building with mud and straw is called “cob building” or a “cob house.” It allows for some very fanciful designs. I wonder how it will hold up in those harsh Romanian winters.
Now that you mention it, it does have a bit of the Hudertwasser feeling. A bit of extra color and a lot more green and they would indeed have something even better looking!
The castle itself is in the works for years now and it has seen its fair share of winters. Although I don’t really know how it is inside, I remember reading that they have heating solved. And the rooms are probably small and easy to heat – just like most rooms in Romanian villages where most houses are built from similar materials.
What a wonderful and different place. I’ve never actually heard of this area and the price to see it sounds super cheap too.
Do you know of any other attractions near it? Although it looks like a beautiful stay, visiting for one building alone is hard to justify when you’re travelling from overseas :D.
Well, traveling across the ocean for this Clay Castle alone might not be worth it, indeed 🙂 Fortunately, Sibiu is very close, with Brasov and Curtea de Arges nearby. So if you have a car to drive around, you would indeed have some other important things to see nearby.
This looks like a Thomas Kinkaide painting come to life! I’d love to see some snow covered photos from the winter (just photos – I like to stay indoors where it’s warm in the winter! LOL)
I am sure it looks really good under a nice layer of fresh snow! But, like you, I’d be inside and enjoying photos online hahaha.
Hi. This is something truly wonderful! I will be retiring in a few years, God willing, and wish to travel. Romania has just made the list! I looked at your FB page; thank you for creating such interesting and educational information about your homeland! Happy New Year!