Castelul Peles

Peles Castle is situated in Sinaia, Romania, built between 1873 and 1914. It is considered one of the most beautiful tourist objectives of Romania and Europe, having an unique appearance and it is, through its historical and artistic value one of the most important monuments of this type of the second half of 19^th century.

Peles Castle of Sinaia, the summer residence of Romania’s kings, it was built at the wish of king Carol I of Romania (1866-1914), after the plans of architects Johannes Shultz and Karel Liman, and it was decorated by the famous decorators J. D. Heymann of Hamburg, August of Mainz and Berhard Ludwig of Vienna.

Prince Carol I, chosen sir of Romania in 1866, visits Sinaia for the first time in August of the same year, being delighted of the beauty of these places. At that time, Sinaia was a small mountain village, called Podul Neagului. The ruler decides to build a castle in a lonely and picturesque place: Piatra Arsa. Several years later, in 1872, he buys the land (1000 acres), and the works begin in 1873, under the management of the architect Wilhelm von Doderer. First, the workers made efforts to master the nature’s capricious elements, such a the underground water rivers or land slides. The 300 workers who worked here needed two years to finish the arrangements; meanwhile, the ruler personally supervised, in detail, the works. In 1875 the foundation stone of the castle is put, under which tens of golden coins of 20 lei are thrown, the first Romanian coins with the face of Carol I.

In 1883 the official inauguration of Peles Castle takes place, which the ruler saw it as “a seat” of the new dynasty. And its setting on Prahova Valley is not accidental. Not far away, in Predeal, it was at that time Romania’s border with Austro-Hungary. But, in the future, after Transilvania’s union with the Old Kingdom, the castle will be exactly in the middle of the country.

Peles will then obtain more and more importance, becoming the summer residence of the Romanian royal family, who used to spend here a lot of time, usually since May until November. Important political meetings were held here, such as the Crown Councils of 1914 (when Romania’s neutrality was decided in the First World War, who had just begun) and 1925.

The castle hosted several personalities of the time, writers, musicians, but also kings and queens. The most important visit was the ones of the old emperor of Austro-Hungary, Franz Joseph, in 1896. He made a multitude of photos on this occasion, being impressed by the beauty and wealth of the castle. In 1906 a new visit of the emperor is expected, on the occasion of the celebration of 40 years of reign of king Carol I. On this occasion an imperial apartment was arranged in the castle, but the visit of Franz Joseph never took place.

Peles castle has 160 rooms and several entrances and interior stairs. Besides Peles itself, two more smaller constructions were built in the area: Pelisor and Foisor.

Peles castle was declared museum in 1953. In the last years of the communist regime, between 1975-1990, Nicolae Ceausescu ordered the closing of the field for the public and the entire area was declared of protocol interest.