Peles Castle, Sinaia, Romania

Nestled at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains in the picturesque town of Sinaia, Peleș Castle is a masterpiece of German new-Renaissance architecture, considered by many one of the most stunning castles in Europe.

History

When King Carol I of Romania (1839–1914) visited the location on which the beautiful castle now stands, he was amazed by the stunning scenery of the Carpathian Mountains that surround it. The construction of Peleș Castle was commissioned by King Carol, and on August 22, 1873, the foundations were laid in the form of a hunting house and a summer retreat for the Romanian royal family. The castle was designed by the German architect Johannes Schultz in a Neorenaissance style that combined numerous features of classic European styles. Construction saw a slight slowdown during the Romanian War of Independence against the Ottoman Empire in 1877–78, but soon afterwards the plans grew in size and construction was quite rapid. Completed in 1883, the castle served as the summer residence of the royal family until 1947.

After King Michael I's forced abdication in 1947, the Communist regime seized all royal property, including the Peleș Estate. The castle was opened as a tourist attraction for a short time. It also served as a recreation and resting place for Romanian cultural personalities. The castle was declared a museum in 1953. Nicolae Ceaușescu closed the entire estate between 1975 and 1990, during the last years of the Communist regime.

After the December 1989 Revolution, Peleş and Pelişor Castle were re-established as heritage sites and opened to the public.

Architecture

By form and function, Peleş is a palace, but it is consistently called a castle. Its architectural style is a romantically inspired blend Neo-Renaissance and Gothic Revival similar to Schloss Neuschwanstein in Bavaria. A Saxon influence can be observed in the interior courtyard facades, which have allegorical hand-painted murals and ornate fachwerk similar to that seen in northern European alpine architecture.

Interior

Peleş Castle has a 3,200-square-metre floor plan with over 170 rooms, many with dedicated themes from world cultures. The furniture in the Music Room is carved of teak, a gift to King Carol I from the Maharajah of Kapurtala in India, while handmade silk embroideries adorn the ceiling and walls of the Turkish Salon. The ceiling paintings and decorative frescoes in the Theater Hall were designed by the renowned Austrian artists Gustav Klimt and Frantz Matsch.Over 4,000 European and Oriental pieces dating from the 15th to the 19th centuries are on display in the armories. Peleș Castle shelters a painting collection of almost 2,000 pieces.

References:

Address

Aleea Peleșului 2, Sinaia, Romania

See all sites in Sinaia

Details

Founded: 1873
Category: Castles and fortifications in Romania

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
romaniatourism.com

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Sinaia Monastery (0,7 km)
Pelisor Palace (0,3 km)

User Reviews

Larraine “Santos” Criss (2 months ago)
Wonderful castle to visit to learn about Architectural styles in Romania and the story of their Kings. Long queue to enter but once inside, it's all worth it especially when you have a guide to explain

Amanda Seidel (3 months ago)
The detail in this castle is amazing. I could've spent hours & hours here. Unfortunately, it was PACKED!! Our guide got us in the very front of the line, so any waiting we did was strictly waiting for the place to open. Buses & buses of tourists waited behind us for a long time. Don't expect to get photos without others in them unless you're first in line & even then you may not.

John Wells (3 months ago)
Stunning! I went there in mid-December. Unfortunately when I visited part of the castle was under repair. I was only able to visit 1 of the floors. Despite this, the interior that I did see was amazing! The only downside was the crowded line, but of course that cannot be avoided.

Masha Tymchenko (4 months ago)
The most beautiful castle I’ve ever visited. The architecture is stunning, both inside and out, with incredible attention to detail -it feels like stepping into a fairy tale. Іt is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to Romania. However, the queues are some of the longest I’ve ever seen, so be prepared to bring plenty of patience?‍♀️

Hetal Pala (4 months ago)
The interior is wonderfully thought out and decorated. There are a lot of details to this castle that definitely should not be missed. We went in January and the entire place was covered with a blanket of snow. What a picture of site from the exterior. I wish I had more time to explore here but we were on a tour so time was naturally limited but 110% recommended.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Andy Hay

Historic Site of the week

Argos Theater

The ancient Argos Theater was built in 320 BC. and is located in Argos, Greece against Larissa Hill. Nearby from this site is Agora, Roman Odeon, and the Baths of Argos. The theater is one of the largest architectural developments in Greece and was renovated in ca 120 AD.

The Hellenistic theater at Argos is cut into the hillside of the Larisa, with 90 steps up a steep incline, forming a narrow rectilinear cavea. Among the largest theaters in Greece, it held about 20,000 spectators and is divided by two landings into three horizontal sections. Staircases further divide the cavea into four cunei, corresponding to the tribes of Argos A high wall was erected to prevent unauthorized access into the theatron and may have helped the acoustics, but it is said the sound quality is still very good today.

Around 120 CE, both theaters were renovated in the Roman style.

Peles Castle