At the heart of the Fagaras Mountains in Romania, you’ll find The Valley of the Fairies. This could not be a more perfect place for Romania’s newest eco-friendly castle, which fits right in with its whimsical design and fantastical charm. The castle is the brainchild of Razran and Gabriela Vasile, singers by profession, who moved from their urban home in Bucharest to make their dream castle a reality. They spent two years with architect Ileana Mavrodin as they mapped out how a building made of 100% organic straw, clay, wooden pillars, and sand would stand strong against the elements.

Today, the 10-room castle, aptly named the Clay Castle of the Valley of the Fairies, is fully constructed, and is now being decorated and refined inside. The Vasiles have plans to operate it as a hotel (each room has its own wood-burning fire) and an organic restaurant. Although the castle isn’t available for guests quite yet, many tourists flock to it each day to soak in the magnificent views of the Carpathian Mountains. Even though it’s only 24 miles outside of the city of Sibiu, the castle offers a pocket of solitude and simplicity for those who want to escape the rush of city life.

Castelul de Lut Valea Zanelor: website
Via: mymodernmet.com