How to Visit Nevermore Academy from Wednesday (Cantacuzino Castle)!

Hey, Wednesday fans. Did you know that you can visit Nevermore Academy in real life in Romania? 

Okay, technically, you can’t visit the actual school as it doesn’t exist. 

But you can visit where they filmed the Netflix series, which is the next best thing.

It’s called Cantacuzino Castle, tucked away in the hills of Transylvania (yes, that’s also a real place). 

As a lifelong fan of the Addams Family and the brand-new show, I knew I just had to visit on my recent trip to Romania. 

I ended up having a ghoulishly good time as there is plenty to do there for fans.

Here is how to visit Cantacuzino Castle, the Wednesday filming location of Nevermore Academy. 

Is Nevermore Academy a real school?

Sadly, no. Nevermore Academy is not a real school. 

It’s a completely fictional academy that was created for the Netflix show Wednesday. 

It is a shame as it’s a place that embraces every Outcast, and shuns ‘normie’ culture, but it only exists in the Addams Family world.

However, fans can experience a part of it by visiting the Nevermore Academy filming location in Romania! 

Where is the Nevermore Academy filming location? 

Nevermore Academy was filmed at Cantacuzino Castle, a domineering fortress in Transylvania.

Of course, it doesn’t look exactly the same as the academy in the show, as they used some CGI magic to make it look more spooky. 

But you can instantly see why they picked this Gothic castle due to its dark brick exterior, turret towers and eerie grounds.

It’s a castle that has seen a lot of dark chapters in its history and has some ghastly stories of its own.  

Brief history of Cantacuzino Castle

Cantacuzino Castle was completed in 1911 as a summer residence for Prince Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino, who was nicknamed ‘Nababul’.

At the time, he was one of the richest men in all of Romania and served as prime minister for the country twice. 

The keep was designed by architect Grigore Cerchez in a Neo-Romanian style. 

For its time, the castle was a pioneer in modern facilities as it was fitted with electricity, a sewerage system and accessible drinking water.

It served as the family residence until 1930. After that, it suffered significant damage during the Communist era.

For many years, it was a sanatorium. Much of the furniture was stolen, and the original murals were painted over. 

The only original painting work that could be fully restored is in the elaborate ballroom. But even this has taken years to recover. 

It eventually was returned to the Cantacuzino heirs and was then sold to private investors who now run the Zamora estate. 

How to visit Cantacuzino Castle in Romania

The great news for Wednesday fans is that today, Cantacuzino Castle is open to the public. 

It’s located in Busteni, a small mountain town in the Prahova Valley of Transylvania. 

It’s very easy to visit the Nevermore Academy filming location from the popular tourist hub of Brașov. 

It’s also very close to Dracula’s Castle (Bran Castle), so it makes a spooktacular addition to your Romania itinerary.

You can easily take a train to Bușteni station from either Brasov or Bucharest and it’s then a 20-minute walk to the castle.

Alternatively, it’s a 50-minute drive from Brasov or a 2/3 hour drive from Bucharest. 

Why not book a guided tour?

If you don’t want the hassle of organising travel, you can book a guided tour that includes three popular castles in this area.

It’s a great way to save both money and time on your trip if you don’t have a car. 

You’ll visit Cantacuzino Castle, Peles Castle and Bran Castle, the home of Dracula, all in one day from Bucharest.

Opening times and ticket prices

Cantacuzino Castle is open Monday to Sunday from 9 am to 8 pm most of the year. So, there’s plenty of time to visit. 

The ticket prices depend on what you’d like to do. For example, you can just visit the park and grounds for 65 RON. 

However, I recommend buying the full castle ticket, which includes a tour inside the castle, the gallery and park for 85 RON. 

That way, you can experience all of the Wednesday attractions, as it includes a visit to the Secret Room with a souvenir photo! 

You can buy tickets online in advance, but I just bought mine on the day at the cash desk. 

Things to do at Cantacuzino Castle for Wednesday fans

Something that I loved about Cantacuzino Castle is that they really embraced the Wednesday fandom.

So, there’s plenty to do here for fans of the show during a visit. 

You can take photos around the academy, visit Wednesday’s dorm, buy Wednesday-themed souvenirs and even munch on a Wednesday burger! 

Here are all the things to do at Cantacuzino Castle for Wednesday fans.

1. Take photos around Nevermore Academy 

As soon as I arrived at Cantacuzino Castle, I instantly felt like I had been transported to Nevermore Academy. 

It felt surreal to wander around the grounds and see all of the locations featured in the show.

As I mentioned, it doesn’t look exactly like the academy, as some movie magic was added to make it appear more spooky. 

But, you can explore the academy courtyard, the grounds and even where they practised archery. There are so many photo opportunities! 

I loved the fact that there were photo stills at the various filming locations. Plus, there were lots of fun Wednesday cutouts to pose with.

2. Practice Archery

In the series, Principal Weems forces Wednesday to visit some school clubs in the hope of her joining one. 

During this time, she meets Xavier Thorpe, who is the head of the archery club and tries to school her. 

Of course, Wednesday is an expert at archery, and so she shoots an apple in mid-air to hit the bullseye just to prove her point.

Cantacuzino Castle has left the archery grounds here so that fans can take a photo! 

In the summer months, they sometimes hold archery lessons for a small fee. 

3. Visit the Secret Room

If you’re visiting Nevermore Academy, you can’t skip the ‘Secret Room’, aka the Wednesday Room.

It’s a special exhibition where they have recreated Wednesday’s dorm that she shares with her roommate, Enid Sinclair.

Just like in the show, half of the room is dark and spooky, and the other is sickly pink.

They have a lot of recreated props, including Wednesday’s cello and Enid’s roller skates and plushies. You can even see Thing!

To remember your visit, they have a photo opportunity with the stained glass window in the centre. 

For a small fee, they will print the photo out for you to keep. It’s such a cool souvenir for fans to take home. 

Entry to the Secret Room is included in a full castle ticket. But, if you didn’t buy one, it’s 15 RON.

4. Explore the Mini Museum 

Just next door to the Wednesday Room, you’ll find the ‘Mini Museum’ which is a LEGO exhibition filled with interesting models.

I absolutely loved that they had a miniature Nevermore Academy and Addams Family mansion made out of LEGO.

It even had little characters from the show to find (including a super adorable LEGO Thing). 

It’s only a small room, but you could spend a lot of time in here picking out the small details. The creations were so talented.

Entry to the Mini Museum is included in a full castle ticket. But, if you didn’t buy one, the entry is 15 RON.

5. Try a Wednesday Burger 

If you’re looking for something devilishly delectable on your visit, then you must try the castle’s Wednesday burger.

You can find it on the menu of the Nababu’ Restaurant in the central courtyard just outside the Wednesday Exhibition.

What makes it so special is that it’s a black bun double cheeseburger served with a side of French fries! 

I’ve never tried a black bun burger before, and I have to admit, it was incredibly tasty.

6. Take a tour of Cantacuzino Castle

It’s important to note that they didn’t film any interiors of Cantacuzino Castle for the Wednesday series.

However, your ticket includes a guided tour of the castle, and I highly recommend taking advantage. 

You can learn about the secrets and scandals of the Cantacuzino family, explore the grand ballroom, take photos on their panoramic balcony and visit the modern art gallery. 

There are a few English tours held throughout the day. So, if you have the time, I recommend waiting for one. 

I found these a lot quieter than Romanian language tours. It was just me and 3 other people on mine, so I felt like a VIP. 

The tour lasts for around 30-45 minutes, and I found it very informative. 

Our guide was so passionate about the castle and answered all of our questions with ease.

7. Buy some Wednesday souvenirs 

After your tour inside the castle, you will exit through the castle gift shop, and again I love how they embrace the Wednesday theme.

They had some great souvenirs, including postcards, keyrings and t-shirts. 

I ended up buying a special Nevermore Academy magnet featuring Thing & Cantacuzino Castle. It’s now sitting in pride of place on my fridge at home. 

What else is there to do in Cantacuzino Castle?

Beyond Wednesday attractions, Cantacuzino Castle is a delightful place to explore.

You can wander around their gorgeous manicured gardens and wider grounds.

They had plenty of photo opportunities dotted around the estate. 

I particularly loved this autumnal arch for Fall that had a backdrop of the Lower Carpathian mountains. 

There’s also a small wooden chapel that is still in use. It was constructed in 1935 and is dedicated to Saint George the Conqueror. 

Plus, having a coffee in their panoramic terrace café is a dream.

I had clear weather on my visit, so I had an unobstructed backdrop of the mountain peaks. 

You can also have lunch at the restaurant if you prefer. It’s quite pricey compared to the courtyard café, but the meals are of higher quality. 

Is Cantacuzino Castle worth visiting?

Yes, if you’re a fan of the Netflix series Wednesday, then you must visit the Nevermore Academy filming location.

There’s so much to do there for fans that makes it worth your time and money. It feels like you’re part of the show!

Even if you’re not a fan, Cantacuzino Castle is a stunning place that should be on your bucket list.

The scenery of the Carpathian Mountains is spectacular from the grounds, and the castle itself has so much to offer visitors. 

Don’t skip a visit to Cantacuzino Castle in Romania, it’s a scream!

My top tips for visiting Nevermore Academy 

• Cantacuzino Castle can get very crowded, especially on weekends. So, I recommend visiting early to avoid the crowds.

• English tours take place throughout the day, and these are a lot quieter than the Romanian tours.

• Don’t skip the secret Wednesday Room. It’s not that expensive and perfect for fans of the show. There’s also a chance to get a souvenir photo.

• Parking is very limited outside of the castle. Another reason to visit earlier in the day to secure a spot!

Where else did they film Wednesday in Romania?

If you are a fan of Wednesday, there are a few more filming locations you can visit in Romania.

They are mostly found around Bucharest, which is ideal as you’ll most likely fly in or out of there for your trip. 

You can explore the Bucharest Botanical Gardens, which featured for many exterior scenes and Nevermore Academy’s Greenhouse.

They also filmed some interiors of the school and the grand ball at Palatul Monteoru near Bucharest. 

Or, why not visit the Dinamo Pool that stood in for Nancy Reagan High School’s swimming pool in the very first episode?

Why not visit Peles Castle nearby?

Another incredible castle found in this area is the majestic Peles Castle.

It’s the second-most visited castle in Romania and is arguably one of the prettiest castles in all of Europe. 

Built on the orders of King Carol I, this royal residence was designed as a German Neo-Renaissance castle. 

It has beautiful woodwork and turrets that look like something from a storybook. 

It has beautifully manicured gardens and 168 rooms filled with grand designs inspired by countries around the world. 

This is also a Netflix filming location and featured in all three movies of A Christmas Prince! So, don’t miss out.

Read more of my Romania travel guides

How to visit Dracula’s Bran Castle in Romania

The best things to do in Brasov 

How to visit the Brasov Hollywood Sign

How to visit Corvin Castle in Hunedoara

A complete guide for Rope Street 

Is Thermae Bucharest worth the hype?

Is Caturesti Carusel the prettiest bookshop in Romania?

Save how to visit Nevermore Academy from Wednesday for later!