Located on what is today 14 Republicii Street, Nakó Manor or Castle was built in 1864 by Miklós Ybl for Count Kálmán Nakó, member of an old Aromanian family from Greece. Settling in Banat, brothers Nacu, Hristu and Chiril converted to Catholicism, adopting the Hungarian names of Nakó, Kristóf and Cziril. The building, erected on the land that they had bought at auction in 1781, was surrounded by a large park with rare trees.

In the Neo-Classical style with mediaeval influences, the impressive, large manor with over ninety rooms is dominated by the mediaeval-looking tower, its defining element and probably the reason it is also called a “castle”. With a semi-basement and a ground floor, the building is accessible via an entrance on ground level that turns into a wide staircase leading to the ground floor. The semi-basement is organised around a linear corridor which goes across the building, as is, partially, the ground floor (with the exception of a main hall in the middle area).

In the past, the manor boasted a 5000-volume library, paintings, statues, rare porcelains, letters from Franz Liszt and Richard Wagner. A great part of these treasures has sadly vanished after WW1.

Because of its various functions – it served as a school of agriculture, a school for tractor drivers, a dancing club, a computer club –, Nakó Manor underwent a series of restoration works and changes which led to the loss of historical layers and material elements.

Nakó Manor is currently is a community arts centre and museum and holds an exhibition dedicated to the town’s famous son Béla Bartók, well-known also for his work as a collector of Romanian folk melodies.

Nakó Manor is on the list of historical monuments (no. 282, code number cod LMI TM-II-m-A-06287).

References:

http://www.monumenteuitate.org/ro/monument/9/Sannicolau-Mare-Nako