# Jósika Castle

- **Country:** Romania
- **Location Text:** Surduc

Jósika Castle is a low-rise classical building located in Surduc, Sălaj County, Romania, situated on the left bank of the Someș River. The estate also features a small tempietto built on a steep cliff at the village entrance from Jibou. While specific construction dates are not recorded in the available records, the property covers a floor area of approximately 3,596 square meters. The architectural style is identified as Classical, with contributions to its final appearance made by various members of the noble families who owned it over the centuries. The site is currently recognized as a historical monument of local importance by the Romanian Ministry of Culture.

The castle holds significant historical value due to its association with prominent figures and events. Most notably, it was the residence of Miklós Jósika, a foundational writer of the Hungarian romantic novel, who lived and worked there between 1834 and 1853. Within these walls, he authored the historical novel Abafi, earning comparisons to the Scottish writer Walter Scott. Prior to this literary era, the estate played a role in military history; Prince Francis II Rákóczi shared his last lunch with László Csáky at the location before the Battle of Zsibó in 1705. The property changed hands from the Csáky family to the Jósika family in 1810, remaining with them until 1945.

Regarding its current status, the castle has been under the ownership of Agromec since 1991. Recent reports indicate that the property was listed for sale as of September 2022. Despite the passage of time and changes in ownership, the structure remains a key cultural and tourist component within Sălaj County. Its preservation is monitored as part of the national list of historical monuments, ensuring that its legacy as both a literary sanctuary and a site of Transylvanian princely history is maintained for future generations.

![Photo of Jósika Castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7b/Castelul_Jozsika_Surduc_1.JPG)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jósika_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)