In a vast and panoramic garden above the town of Sinaia, Peles Castle, as if out of fairy tales, is the main attraction of Romania and the most romantic fortress of Romania.
Built for royal Carol I as a holiday home between 1873 and 1883 in a spectacular German Renaissance style, it resembles a Bavarian palace and is better preserved than other royal castles in Romania. One explanation is that the communist authorities used it to receive foreign guests, being open only occasionally to the public. The difference between Peles and Cotroceni for example is striking. Here almost all the original elements have remained, while at Cotroceni many have disappeared.
Although many of the castle’s 160 rooms are surprisingly small, it is the complex character and allure that is striking, from the Murano crystal chandeliers to the carved teak wood and German stained glass windows. While the exterior represents the Germanic culture with which Royal Charles was familiar, the interior is more electric and warm.
The castle also impresses with its high-tech appliances, which include a 1901 vacuum cleaner and a 1912 food elevator still in operation. A room decorated by the young Gustav Klimt served as the royal cinema.
castle history kings peles castle royal
Last modified: November 17, 2022
