Peles Castle

Peles Castle, near the mountain resort of Sinaia in the Carpathians, is one of the most beautiful castles in Europe, a magnificent neo-Renaissance palace built in the late nineteenth century as the summer residence of Romania's first king. A fairytale confection of turrets, spires and half-timbered gables set against a backdrop of forested mountains, its lavish interior is a masterpiece of ornate woodcarving, stained glass, tapestries, armour and gilded rooms, one of the most opulent and best-preserved royal residences on the continent.

History

Carol I first saw the site in 1866, the Crown bought 5 square kilometres of land near the Piatra Arsă River in 1872, and the German architect Johannes Schultz won the commission with a more original plan after three designs were rejected. Between three and four hundred men of many nations worked on the castle, built between 1873 and 1914 and inaugurated in 1883, at an estimated cost of 16,000,000 lei in gold (Wikipedia, Peleș Castle).

The main sights

• The fairytale exterior - the turrets and gables against the mountains.
• The opulent interior - the ornate carved-wood and gilded rooms.
• The armoury and collections - the arms, tapestries and art.
• Pelisor - the smaller Art Nouveau castle nearby.

When to go

May to September for the best weather in the mountains; go early to avoid the crowds, and note it is closed on certain days, usually Mondays and sometimes Tuesdays, so check ahead. Autumn brings beautiful colour to the forested setting.

What to expect

It is very popular, so it can be crowded, and the interior is seen only on a guided tour that can queue, with a fee. It is closed on certain weekdays, so check before travelling. Photography inside often costs extra. Its fairytale beauty and opulent interior, though, are genuinely spectacular, and it pairs well with Bran and Brasov on a Transylvania trip.

Nearby

The resort of Sinaia, Bran Castle and Brasov are within reach.

Key facts