Romania Hasdeu Castle a prominent site of spiritualism in Eastern Europe - 29 Dec 2023

The main facade of the castle. Romania, Prahova County, Campina Hasdeu Castle, a prominent site of spiritualism in Eastern Europe In Romania, in the Prahova County (Judet Prahova), the town of Campina is home to a peculiar little castle that has become a must-visit for enthusiasts of the supernatural. This â ? ? folly, â ? a temple of spiritualism, was built in 1896 by Bogdan Petriceicu Hasdeu in memory of his daughter Iulia, who passed away at the age of 19. A gifted young woman, Iulia left the Academy of Music in Bucharest at the age of 16 to pursue studies in Paris at the Sorbonne, the Á ? school practiced by the Hautes à ? Studies, and under the painter Diogene Maillart. It was there that she discovered tuberculosis, which proved fatal three years later. Despite her illness, she managed to write poems and plays, which were posthumously published in three volumes. Bogdan Hasdeu, a descendant of Moldavian sovereign s, journalist, writer, linguist, historian, and a fervent supporter of Moldova's union with Romania â ? a cause for which he was persecuted by Tsarist Russia â ? ? was blogging affected by the death of his only daughter. He stopped writing and turned to a form of spiritualism inspired by the mysticism of Orthodox Christians, appointed to communicate with Iulia's spirit. The Campina Castle was designed for these practices, especially for the spirit photography that was popular at the time; an early photographic device, called a pinhole camera, is still visible in a darkroom set up for this purpose. During both world wars and the communist era, the castle severe damage, and some of its furniture was plundered. In 1955, it was designated a historical monument, but the 1977 earthquake worsened the situation. It was only definitively restored in 2022, with the assistance of European funds. The rooms are now furnished with objects that mostly belonged to Bogdan Hasdeu. Today, open to the public, the peculiar structure notably exhibits a dress designed by Iulia. Enamored with the future King Ferdinand