Romania is not only Dracula, Ceausescu and gypsies (although they too!), but also stunning architecture and castles - medieval and not so. We have selected three of the most impressive of them, which you should definitely include in your route if you are going to those parts.
Peles Castle
Aleea PeleSului 2, Sinaia
From the outside, Peles resembles German half-timbered houses, and for good reason. The castle was built by order of the first king of Romania, Carol I: German by origin, he saw similarities in these places with his native land and bought these lands for a summer residence and hunting grounds.
The monarch turned out to be a very strict critic in architectural terms: he rejected the first few projects, which were too similar to existing foreign palaces. In the end, Carol I chose an idea that combined the aesthetics of different styles, including the German neo-Renaissance. Construction of the castle began in 1873. Peles received its name in honor of the mountain river of the same name, on the banks of which it was built. In parallel with the construction of the building, a power station was built on it, so Peles became the first fully electrified castle in the world. Its construction resembled Babylonian pandemonium: several hundred people from more than a dozen states worked here. In 1883, the castle was inaugurated, but it was finally ready only more than thirty years later - in 1914.
After World War II and the Socialists came to power, Peles was nationalized and turned into a museum. However, towards the end of the reign of Romanian leader Nicolas Ceausescu, access to the public was closed: only museum staff and people from military and government circles could be on the territory. After the Romanian revolution of 1989, the authorities first made the castle a museum again, then returned it to its previous owner, the last king of Romania, Michael I, and then bought it from the royal house for 30 million euros.
Looking from the outside at the elegant castle, more reminiscent of an Alpine mansion, it is difficult to believe that it has about 160 rooms. Tourists are only allowed on the ground and first floors. The tour is like a short trip: there are rooms in Turkish, English, Italian, German, French, Spanish-Moorish and other styles.
Next door is another castle - Pelisor, whose name can be translated as “little Peles” - it has “only” 70 rooms. It was built for Ferdinand I, the nephew of King Carol I.
How to get there: Sinaia can be reached from Brasov (by train - from € 2.3) or Bucharest (by train - from € 4.8).
Prices: tour of the basement and first floors – € 13 or € 3.2 for students; only on the ground floor - € 6.5 or € 1.6 for students.
Bran Castle
Strada General Traian Mosoiu 24, Bran
The 14th-century castle in the town of Bran became famous throughout the world as the domain of the vampire Dracula from the novel by Irishman Bram Stoker. Bram himself had never been to Romania and formed an idea of the country from books and engravings. As a result, Bran turned out to be the only castle in those parts that corresponded to the description of his hero’s estate. “On both sides there was a huge abyss. The castle was built on the edge big cliff, so that on three sides it was completely impregnable. To the west was a large valley, and beyond it, in the distance, rose jagged cliffs, one after the other; they were covered with mountain flowers and thorns, the roots of which clung to the cracks and ruins of the stone,” the book says about the vampire’s residence – and it really resembles the fortress at Bran.
However, the historical prototype of Dracula - Prince Vlad III Dracula - never lived in Bran. He ruled Wallachia, a medieval principality in the south of modern Romania, in the 15th century and owned Poenari Castle, the ruins of which remain near the stunningly picturesque Transfagarasan. Dracula waged an irreconcilable struggle against the Turkish conquerors, but was betrayed by his allies and imprisoned. Through the efforts of one of them, the Hungarian king Matthew I Corvinus, the prince went down in history as a bloodthirsty tyrant under the nickname Tepes - “the impalementer,” which inspired Bram Stoker several centuries later. Some historical sources connect the treachery of the Hungarian ruler with the waste of funds allocated by the Pope for the fight against the Ottomans, which he wanted to hush up by accusing Dracula of secret connections with the Turks and blaming him for military failures. It was then that the Prince of Wallachia visited Bran, but not of his own free will: according to the castle staff, Matvey Corvinus kept him captive here for several months.
The famous ruler of Wallachia and his literary incarnation in the fortress is given only one showroom. The exhibition is dedicated primarily to the last owners of the castle - Queen Mary, who received it as a gift for her efforts to unify Romania, and her descendants, who own the fortress today. Those who are more interested in the legends of Dracula should check out the fair at the foot of Bran: they sell “vampire” souvenirs for every taste.
How to get there: The most convenient way to get to Bran is from Brasov (bus – € 1.5).
Prices: adult ticket – € 8.6; student – € 5.4.
Corvin Castle
Strada Castelului 1-3, Hunedoara
Corvin Castle in the industrial town of Hunedoara is the largest gothic castle in Romania. The fortress, the first mention of which dates back to XIV century, received for military merits by the grandfather of the above-mentioned Hungarian king Matthew Corvinus (Hunyadi). His son, Janos, rebuilt the fortification and added seven towers to it, and Matvey Corvin completed his work.
The Hunyadi family owned the castle until 1508, after which it changed more than twenty owners, each of whom changed something in the architecture of the building. In the mid-19th century, a fire destroyed all wooden structures, including the roofs, which were previously flat. The fortress was restored and reconstructed, and in 1974 it became a museum and opened its doors to visitors.
Peles Castle and Pelisor in Romania on ski resort Sinaia are located nearby, which allows you to visit them simultaneously in 1 day.
Taking into account the time spent in the Peles and Pelisor castles, visiting Sinaia in 1 day you can still have time to see the Sinaia Monastery and the Museum of Natural History of the Bucegi Mountains at the foot of which all this is located.
A visit to each castle as a group takes about 1 hour, the total cost of entrance tickets to both castles, including photography permission, is about 30 €, which is not very little for Romania. Carefully study the opening hours of both castles, since the schedule for each day is different, as well as a large number of non-working days, and sometimes even whole weeks when the locks are closed.
Road to Peles Castle
From Sinaia train station to the castles it’s a 30-minute walk uphill, the distance is only 2 km, and there will be signs along the entire road. It’s enough to leave the Sinaia station building and go up the steps to Dimitrie Ghica Park, and then look for signs.
In the park itself way back you can look for 3 Lei in .
A little further up the road there will be an entrance ticket of 5 lei.
Sinaia Monastery Further uphill will be among residential buildings, most of which are most likely rented out as a resort ski season. Houses in Sinaia often copy the architecture of Peles and Pelisor castles, so don’t be surprised if you see a large private house along the road that resembles a miniature castle.
Already on the approach to the castles, a colorful building will appear, which in appearance looks like a castle, but this is just a restaurant and a hotel. There is also a small market with souvenir sellers nearby. It’s better to visit the market after visiting the castles; after being impressed by what you’ve seen, it’s easier to choose souvenirs and magnets.
Peles Castle
From the veranda of the restaurant/hotel shown above, you can see the Peles Castle building hidden in the trees on the slope.
My visit to Peles Castle took place during the annual two-week maintenance period when the castle is closed to the public. Perhaps for the better because... admission ticket and photography permission costs 65 Lei.
The rules for visiting the castle contain an interesting note that photographs of the interior can only be used for personal archives and are prohibited from being posted online. A strange decision, but the organizers apparently decided that the fewer photos there are on the Internet, the more people will want to visit the castle. And the castle, by the way, is registered in Romania as a brand and trademark, which also diverges from world practice when the more they say and show a brand, the more expensive and popular it is.
Even from the outside, not the entire castle can be viewed; the photo shows that some passages are closed. Because of this, it was not possible to walk around the balconies.
This castle was built on behalf of the first king of Romania, Carol I. It took a long time to build the castle from 1873 to 1914, since it was built practically on an empty site and it was necessary to build infrastructure at the same time. During construction, they did not forget about modern technologies - it was the first electrified castle not only in Romania but also in the world, for which a power plant had to be built.
Monument to the first king of Romania, Carol I Also near the castle there is a monument to his wife Queen Elizabeth, also known by her pseudonym Carmen Silva.
Near the next sculpture, few people pass by without taking a photo. The lion has very pronounced eyes, which makes all passers-by pay attention. Leo, either angry or scared.
Don’t forget to look into the castle’s courtyard where the walls are decorated with bright paintings, and there is also a ticket office in the courtyard.
Although I didn’t go into the castle, I still found information about what was inside; there are more than 160 rooms in the castle, but not all of them are accessible for inspection, only 35.
Not far from Peles Castle there is a small Pelisor Castle, the interiors of which I also did not manage to see because I did not have enough time. When approaching the castle there is a sign with opening hours and ticket prices.
In short, a visit to Pelişor Castle with a filming permit will cost 52 Lei, and if you look at the same information on the official Pelniş and Peleşor Castle, it will cost a little more than 55 Lei.
The castle is smaller than the previous one, there are only 70 rooms, but due to its compactness it looks cozy. It was built from 1899 to 1903, together with Peles Castle, as a summer residence for the heir to the king, nephew Ferdinand.
The ticket office and the entrance to the castle itself are also located in courtyard, as in Peles Castle.
If you walk around Pelisor Castle on the left, you may simply not recognize it. You won't be able to get closer from the façade because... everything is blocked off with barriers, chains and warning signs. And for those who won’t be stopped by all this, there is also a security booth; on my visit it was empty, but I didn’t want to risk it.
This was the last photo and I want to say that Peles Castle and Pelisor in Romania It’s worth visiting well prepared and finding out in advance not only the opening hours, but also taking into account possible technical maintenance, which is announced in advance on the locks’ website. Also, be mentally prepared to pay about 30 € at the exchange rate for this pleasure.
Peles Castle and Pelisor are a very popular and promoted place in Romania and the main attractions of Sinaia, tourists were present here in large numbers even in the cool weather in October. So imagine what it will be like here during the tourist season.
Peles Castle in Romania- one of the most beautiful and fabulous castles in the country. Romania, as you know, is the birthplace of the world famous Count Dracula. There are many interesting and beautiful castles in the country, but Peles Castle stands out among them. The castle does not have a specific style or direction. The architect of this castle, Johann Schulz, combined styles such as Baroque, Rococo and Renaissance in his creation. There are several towers on the roof of Peles Castle, and fountains and columns on the terraces.
The interior of Peles Castle in Romania also does not have a specific style. Each owner left a piece of himself and his culture here. Therefore, the castle brought together Moorish patterns combined with the Renaissance, Turkish patterns combined with the Baroque style. These combinations do not interfere with each other and look very impressive. The Romanian castle has 30 bathrooms and 160 regular ones. The interiors of all rooms used ivory, ebony, tapestries, paintings, silver and gold dishes.
Peles Castle has the king's library, which contains a large number of interesting books. The office was not fully completed, since the king died, and the office was left as he saw it. The dining room, meeting room and armory are also worth a visit. There are a lot of weapons in the castle; the collection numbers more than 4 thousand items.
The castle got its name from the river flowing nearby. The history of Peles Castle begins at the moment when King Carol I of Romania decided to build his summer residence near Sinai in the Carpathians. Construction of Peles Castle began in 1873 and ended in 1883. But after its opening, the castle continued to be rebuilt. The king's wife Elizabeth and her husband participated in the construction of the castle. In her letters you can read many references to construction. Since the Romanian Peles Castle was built in the 19th century, it used the latest technologies at that time. Electricity was installed there and an elevator was installed, and in 1916 a cinema was built in the castle.
After World War II, a museum was opened at Peles Castle in Romania. But after a certain time it was closed, and the castle became the residence of the country's top leadership. In 1989 the museum was reopened.
In 2006, Romanian authorities returned Peles Castle to the royal family, but the family offered to sell it to the state for thirty million euros. Having fulfilled this request, Peles Castle received the status state museum. About five hundred thousand people visit the castle every year.
There is an entrance fee to the castle, and prices vary depending on the time of the tour. You can only walk around the castle with a tour group. Tours of Peles Castle in Romania are most often conducted in English.
And one of the most beautiful in Europe. The former residence of the Romanian monarchs was equipped with all the technical innovations of the last century: telephone communications, a cinema, two elevators, central heating. It was also the first fully electrified one.
Myths and facts
At the end of the 19th century, Romania became a kingdom, uniting the three principalities of Transylvania, Wallachia and Moldova. The German prince Carol I from the Hohenzollern dynasty was invited to rule the state. They say that he liked the surrounding landscapes of Sinai so much, reminiscent of his native land, that he decided to build a summer residence here.
The demanding ruler rejected several projects that, in his opinion, were not very original. As a result, the work of the architect I. Schultz was chosen and construction began.
The castle was built from 1873 to 1914 (including finishing work). In total, about $120 million was spent on the project. The palace was named Peles (translated as “belt”) - after the name of the river flowing nearby.
In 1883, a ball was held on the occasion of the prince’s inauguration, and in 1893 his son, Carol II, was born here.
Peles Castle served as a royal residence until 1947, when it, along with other royal property, was confiscated by the communists who came to power. In 1953, a museum was located in the complex, and in 1975-1989 it was a closed area intended for recreation and official meetings of the Romanian ruler Ceausescu.
Since 1990, the palace was open to tourists, and in 2008 it was returned to the ownership of the royal family - the former King of Romania, Michael I. After negotiations between him and the government, the latter bought Peles for a decent sum of 30 million euros. Nowadays there is a museum here, and the building itself is considered a historical monument.
What to see
In terms of structure and functions, Peles is more likely a palace, but it is traditionally called. It was built in the neo-Renaissance style with Baroque elements. The area of the structure is 3200 m2, and the height of its towers is 66 m.
The internal “filling” is a mix of all possible styles: German Renaissance, Rococo. They say that a tour of the palace is a mini-trip through the countries of Europe and Asia. 160 rooms (30 of them are bathrooms) have their own unique interior.
The highest room is the front lobby with a height of 16 m. The hall is a copy of the German Chamber of Commerce in Lübeck. It is decorated with wood and bas-reliefs made of marble plaster, depicting biblical, mythological and historical scenes. Interestingly, the glass ceiling of the hall is still moved apart using an electric motor for ventilation.
In the hall of European weapons there is a collection of the 15th-19th centuries; the exhibition includes 4,000 items - this is one of the richest collections in Europe.
Medieval weapons are also on display in the hall of oriental weapons. The rich interiors have the king's office, a meeting room, a musical, Moorish and Florentine halls. The handmade wooden carvings, original stained glass windows (the richest collection of stained glass windows in Romania), collections of valuable paintings, tapestries and statues are impressive.
The castle is surrounded by a landscaped park with terraces. Nearby are the Pelisor Palace and the Sinaia Monastery
Autumn is the time to take a vacation for those who like an unusual holiday. It is at this time that architecture connoisseurs will be able to admire the beauty of European castles. And let them say that there is nothing more tiring than visiting museums, a mystical castle immersed in the colors of autumn will make you forget about all stereotypes. Let's visit Peles Castle in Romania.
Beautiful Romania, one of the most beautiful European countries, is replete with castles. And besides the castle of Count Dracula, tourists should turn their attention to Peles Castle, because of its rich architecture, beautiful park area and interior decoration.
The castle found its refuge in a very picturesque place, on the territory of the Carpathians. A river flows next to it, after which the castle was named. Peles, thanks to its vast territory, looks very impressive. Perched on a mountain and surrounded by greenery, it is difficult not to notice, especially if you head from the city of Sinaia or Bucharest.
Peles Castle on this moment is a historical monument, but this was not always the case.
King Carol I, perhaps competing with other kings for originality and at the same time not wanting to spend a fortune on the construction of his summer residence, wanted to get from the architects a proposal that would combine uniqueness and economy. Having abandoned many ideas, he finally approved the idea of a certain Schulz, an architect who decided that in order for the picky king to like the castle, it should be made not in one, but in different styles. As a result, the project turned out to be very solid. Here the Rococo style is mixed with Baroque and Renaissance, and the general style of the castle is described by historians as neo-Renaissance. Peles was built from 1873 to 1914.
Aesthetic, elegant, memorable. Due to the mixture of styles, it looks very organic at different times of the year.
Despite the fact that the castle began to be built at the end of the 19th century, very advanced technologies already existed then. And where to use them, if not for the residence of the king. Peles Castle, the first in Romania, was equipped with electricity, an elevator and even a cinema. Other castles at that time were deprived of such amenities. Construction of the castle ended in 1914.
But the royal family could not enjoy its beauty for long. Already in the middle of the 20th century, almost all the decoration and the premises as a whole were transferred to state ownership and declared a museum, its exhibits were partially located in Bucharest. The castle was open either for tourists or for the holidays of important people, then it was closed and again given to the royal family, who subsequently sold their house for several million euros. As a result, the castle became a museum and opened its doors to connoisseurs of beauty.
Exterior design
As already mentioned, in addition to the castle itself, the area around it deserves attention. This park ensemble, which contains many fountains. The park is decorated with statues. In particular, tourists are greeted at the entrance by a marble statue of King Carol I, and a little further in there is a monument to his wife.
Also, today the park is equipped with many lanterns, which in the evening beautifully illuminate the terraces with statues and sculptures, and you can walk through the territory both along stone paths and along small stairs. The landscape of the territory deserves special attention. The castle is surrounded by a beautiful garden created in classic French style.
Interior design of the castle
In addition to the fact that the castle itself is externally made in different styles, the architects remained faithful to this rule when decorating the interior. The castle has more than 150 living rooms and more than two dozen restrooms. The halls are designed in a variety of styles. Some ideas were borrowed from Turkey, others from Florence and many other countries.
The decoration of the rooms in general looks very expensive. Here you can see a large number of oriental carpets and tapestries, porcelain and leather, while ivory and ebony occupy a special place in the interior. Which is very strange, in view of the fact that initially they wanted to save money on construction, and, consequently, on decoration. Tourists should pay attention to the library, which is still filled with rare books, the hall with weapons and the room of King Carol, in which the interior was not posthumously changed.
To easily perceive the interior of the castle, it can be represented as follows:
Tourist Guide
The museum is accessible only with a guided tour. The guides gather groups and from different parts of the castle you can hear them speak in different world languages. Not all viewing rooms are available, but those that are open can be visited from Wednesday to Sunday from nine a.m. to five p.m. The cost of visiting depends on the time of the excursion. The maximum cost excluding photos is seventy lei, that is, one thousand one hundred thirty-six rubles.
