Bethlen College, Aiud, Educational institution in Aiud, Romania
Bethlen College is a historic school in Aiud, Romania, made up of several buildings that include a main wing with classical facades, a library, and a chapel. The complex also has student residence spaces and a courtyard that connects the different parts of the grounds.
Prince Gabriel Bethlen founded the college in 1622 in Alba-Iulia, and it was later moved to Aiud, where it kept running through changing political regimes. In the 20th century it was nationalized under communism and then returned to its original role as a school after 1989.
The college is closely tied to the Reformed Church of Transylvania, and that connection is still visible today: the chapel on the grounds is used for services. Visitors walking through the courtyard can notice how religious and school life have coexisted on this site for centuries.
The college sits in the center of Aiud and is easy to reach on foot from the town's main streets. Since it is still an active school, visiting outside of class hours gives you a better chance to walk around the grounds without disrupting daily routines.
The college library holds old manuscripts and printed books from the 17th and 18th centuries, among the oldest surviving collections in Transylvania. Some of these works date from a time when Aiud was one of the main centers of Protestant book printing in the region.
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