If you are passionate about history and you are pondering a trip to Eastern Europe, might we suggest the splendid Peles Castle in Romania? We chose to present this particular landmark because it represents one of the most beautiful and impressive castles in the world, flaunting an exceptional blend of Gothic Revival and Neo-Renaissance architectural elements. The Peles Castle can be found deep in the heart of the Carpathian Mountains, in close proximity to the town and mountain resort of Sinana, in Prahova County, Romania.
The site on which the castle can be found today was purchased by King Carol I of Romania in 1872 and named the “Royal Estate of Sinaia”. Falling in love with the sheer beauty of the place, the King commissioned the building of a royal hunting reserve and summer residence on the property, and so the foundation of the Peles Castle was laid on August 22, 1873. The building was complete and the castle was opened 10 years later in 1883, but many major improvements were still added to the building all the way until 1914. The construction of the Peles Castle required vast sums of money, the equivalent of $120 million in today’s currency to be precise.
Attractions include a generous collection of paintings and a vast assortment of weapons and armor that boasts over 4,000 pieces. The castle can be visited by tourists under the supervision of a professional tour guide. There is an entrance fee as well as an extra fee for those that wish to photograph the splendid building and its interior treasures. The most important rooms in the Peles Castle are called the Grand Armory, the Imperial Suite, the Honor Hall, the Playhouse, the Moorish Saloon, the Turkish Parlor, the Small Armory and the Florentine Room.
There are three different tours available, the first one including just the ground floor of the palace, while the second involves the first floor as well. The third tour offers complete access and includes the visiting of the second floor as well. Given its rich historical heritage and wide array of sublime attractions, the beautiful Peles Castle in Romania surely deserves a personal visit at least once in a lifetime.
