Permanent Exhibition of the Székely Equestrian Museum

In the autumn of 2026, the Mikó Castle in Olteni opened its doors to the general public, operating as an external unit of the Székely National Museum under the name Székely Equestrian Museum.

The permanent exhibition of the museum invites visitors on a comprehensive journey through time, set out to present the noble lifestyle of Háromszék, the history of the castle, and the regional equestrian culture. The concept of the exhibition is designed so that visitors not only encounter the monuments of aristocratic architecture, but also understand the social, economic, and cultural milieu in which the Mikó family of Hídvég and their successors lived their daily lives.

A major pillar of the exhibition is mapping out the centuries-old history of the site. Visitors can gain an insight into how the castle ground connects to the former Roman castrum that once stood on the site, as well as how early 19th-century representational needs shaped the layout and decoration of the interior spaces. In one of the wings opening from the main hall (Palotaterem), the castle’s unique, recently restored wall paintings are still visible today, with touchscreens installed in the rooms providing further information.

Traces of later periods are also evoked, referring to the subsequent owner of the estate, Emil Schmutzler, and the 20th-century history of the castle. Within this section, the exhibition provides an insight into the estate’s transformation into a hunting lodge during the interwar period, the interior alterations of the building, and the memories of the significant stud farm and equestrian life maintained here.

Special attention is dedicated to a comprehensive presentation of the equestrian traditions of the Székely Land and Transylvania. The exhibition recalls the prominent role of the horse in noble identity, military service, and social life. Visitors can gain an understanding of the region’s characteristic horse-breeding culture, period-specific noble sports, hunting life, and the social events centered around famous horse races.

The exhibition deals with local and Háromszék equestrian heritage in a dedicated section. It evokes the Olteni estate’s own horse-breeding past and the endeavors of key stud farms in the surrounding area, which fundamentally shaped the equestrian reputation of the region. Within this unit, special prominence is given to the pride of the Olteni stud, the famous stud stallion Szemafor Széltoló, and the Trakehner bloodline that defined the region’s horse population.

The restored Mikó Castle in Olteni significantly enriches the cultural heritage of Székely Land while introducing an entirely new profile to the portfolio of the Székely National Museum. Through the building and its exhibition, the museum brings Háromszék noble tourism and lifestyle closer to the public, offering a unique and lasting experience for visitors interested in the world of castles and the aristocratic past.