Iulia was considered to be a prodigy, having finished high school at the age of 11 and already knowing three foreign languages. She studies Conservatory in Bucharest and at age 16 she is admitted at the Faculty of Letters at Sorbonne. Meanwhile she writes poetry, prose and drama. She dies of tuberculosis in 1888, at only 19 years old.

Her father, succumbed by pain, quits his job and devotes his life to Iulia's memory. He begins to practice spiritualism and during these meetings he receives the plans for the castle from Iulia's spirit.

"It's been six months since my daughter's death. It was in March - winter had left: spring had not yet arrived. On a wet and dull evening, I sat alone in the room at my desk. Before me, as always, was a star of paper and several pencils. How? I do not know, do not know, do not know; but without my knowledge my hand picked up a pencil and put it atop of the glossy paper. I began to feel some brief and fast beatings in my left temple, just as a telegraph machine was stuck in it . Suddenly, my hand began to move restlessly. Five seconds at most. When my arm stopped and pencil between his fingers fell of, I felt like I had awoke from a dream, though I was sure I did not fall asleep. I looked at the paper and what was written there was very clear: "Je suis heureuse; je t'aime; nous nous reverrons; cela doit te suffire" Iulia Hasdeu. (I'm happy; I love you; we will see each other again; that should be enough for you ). It was the hand writing and signature of my daughter." (Bogdan Petriceicu Haşdeu)

The castle is built based on the numbers 3 and 7 and is full of symbols. Above the main door is the all-seeing eye, as well as it is written "pro fide et patria" and "e pur si muove". On the right and left side of the door there are two sphinxes sitting on one stone throne, they are also guarding the tomb of Iulia at Belu cemetery.

The interior of the castle is very well preserved and everything brings Iulia there. The lobby at the main entrance are dominated by a natural size Jesus statue. From the lobby we enter into the reading room where a massive wooden Rococo style desk is set. Next to this room is the darkroom where the spirituality meetings were held. The wall that separates the darkroom from the reading room has a hole through which the spirit of Iulia entered. There are also two libraries and a music room where is the silent piano of Iulia. All the windows have on the side mirrors symbolizing the separation of the spirit from the body. Both the outside and the inside of the castle seem from another world, one in which you are not fully convinced that you want to enter.

Legend

"At night, behind the locked gates of the Castle, you can hear Iulia playing the piano. We also hear cries of "bravo" and the old man Haşdeu's applause. Sometimes the piano also plays during the day."

"Nobody walks in front of the castle. People cross the street to the other side scared. The neighbors asked the City Hall to force Hasdeu to move and to demolish the house of ghots. "

"We went up the tree and hid all night. We did not see when the ghost entered the building but at the break of the dawn we saw Miss Iulia come out on the left terrace. She was dressed in a white dress, with daisy flowers in her arms and she had her hair caught in a bun with a star. The next morning, a few daisies were found by the street sweeper near the castle fence. It was September, daisies were long gone. The policeman can confirm. "

"If someone passes the front of the castle and wants to curse he can not, it's like you have glue on your tongue."

"Sometimes during the night, the old man howls like a wolf. He comes out to the window, with his nightgown unbuttoned, red eyes and starts shouting: "Vina mafila, Papaliga tatanta" what do I know, a sorcerer's words ... " ( most likely Hasdeu was saying "Viens, ma fille, papaliga - this is how Iulia used to call her father- t'attends!" - this means " Come my daughter, your papaliga is waiting for you" )

Visiting hours

The castle is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9-17

Address: : Bd. Carol I nr. 199, Campina, jud Prahova, follow the signs on the road.

Tickets: 8 lei (audio guide included), discounts for students and groups larger than 10.

At the entrance you receive an audio guide that tells a story about each exhibit while deepening the feeling that Iulia is actually there.

Every year on the 2 July, the day when Hasdeu used to celebrate the two July's of his life, his wife and his daughter, the castle holds a series of events.