Fairy tales are real in Castelul de Lut Valea Zanelor! Nestled in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in the heart of Transylvania, a tiny Romanian town is now home to a fairytale come true in the form of an adorable castle built from clay and sand. The eco castle name is Castelul de Lut Valea Zenelor, which translates to “Clay Castle of the Valley of the Fairies” in English, an absolutely fitting moniker for these ancient architectural accommodation.

The most spectacular Gothic-style castle in Romania, Corvin was built by the Anjou family on the site of a former Roman camp. The castle served as a fortress until the mid-14th century when it became the residence of Transylvania's voivode, Iancu de Hunedoara (Ioannes Corvinus in Latin, Hunyadi in Hungarian). Iancu upgraded the fortress transforming it into a stunning Transylvania castle. The beautifully preserved structure features a sumptuous Knights' Hall, an impressive drawbridge, high buttresses, inner courtyards, a chapel and some 50 rooms resplendent with medieval art. The castle's courtyard features a 100-ft. well dug into stone, in the 15th Century. Legend says that the wheel was dug by three Turkish prisoners who were promised freedom when job was done. It took them 15 years and 28 days to reach water.