Kornis Castle From Manastirea Mica

On a terrace from Somes bank, near Dej municipality, in Manastirea village, Mica commune, Kornis Castle was built, called also the castle with unicorns due to the stone statues with this shape, oriented in parallel with the entrance.

The castle was built initially by Kristof Kereszturi between 1573 and 1592, but its development is related to the name of Kornis family. In this period was built the extension of the second floor, the addition of two bastions in the northern side, the decoration of castle rooms as well as the restoration of the access tower in the castle, tower protected by a water ditch which is also preserved today. The mother of Jesus is the castle protector, her icon sculpted around 1700 being preserved in the present at Dej Municipal Museum.

After nationalization, the collections of books (the library of approximately 9.000 volumes), as well as a real hunting museum have been destroyed, the pavilions having new purposes. The castle is a private property but it can be visited, not being enclosed.