The town got it's name from the church devoted to St. Benedictus. First mentioned in a document in 1308 in the form of "Scenbenedek" . The church probably of 13th century provenance, maintained almost it's original form. Nowadays it belongs to the orthodox church.

The first castle was built by Keresztúri Kristóf in renaissance style in 1593. The castle belonged already to his wife in 1599, who's daughter has married Kornis Boldizsár, and so Szentbenedek became the property of the Kornis family from 1602.

The castle was enlarged s in the 17th century, the gate-bastion built by Kornis Zsigmond, is from 1720.

The "new" castle was built east of the old one, after WWII it was nationalised and used as school. The condition of the building nowadays doesn't promise much for the future, though a plate announces that it's protection are sponsored by both the Romanian and Hungarian governments.

Source: Entz Géza: Erdély építészete a 11-13. században (Erdélyi Múzeum-Egyesület, 1994)
Source: Kiss Gábor: Erdélyi várak, várkastélyok (Panoráma, 1987)