Peles Castle in Romania is a must-see attraction

Peles Castle is a beautiful monument and a popular tourist attraction.

Today, I will take you to an incredible place that you must see when in Romania, the Peles Castle. The wealth of this beautiful castle cannot be described even in the longest of articles, thanks to its museum collections and the original interior design that miraculously survived two world wars and the communist plague.

I invite you to the summer residence of the Romanian kings, the famous Peles Castle. In the article below, you will read about the history of the castle, how to visit it, and what to expect. Additionally, I have found many interesting facts, titbits, and information about this Romanian monument for you.

Peles Castle: The Residence of the Romanian Royal Dynasty and Its History

Have you heard of the Hohenzollern family? Probably yes, as it also appears in Polish history. Many monuments in our country are directly or indirectly associated with this family, which ruled almost all German-speaking countries in Europe centuries ago.

Members of the Hohenzollern family were known for their love of power and possession. Despite having so much, they still wanted more. Thanks to this attitude, in 1866, they arrived in Romania, where they took over power after the exiled Alexandru Ioan Cuza. Taking advantage of the confusion and chaos, Prince Carol of Hohenzollern ascended the throne of Romania.

Carol was not thrilled with the place his family sent him to. Even then, Romania was considered a minor and rather backward country. However, seeing no chance for a more prestigious throne, he obediently bowed his head and, lamenting over himself, took control of Romania. To illustrate how backward Romania was, when Carol reached the borders of his new country, he had to switch from a comfortable train to a carriage because the railway tracks ended.

“It will be fine, it will be fine,” the new ruler probably kept telling himself, looking at the neglected and poor villages he passed as the creaking carriage slowly approached Bucharest. Carol was greatly surprised to find that the princely palace stood among the houses of commoners, only slightly taller than them. Calling it a palace would be not only a tactless remark, but an insult to all other palaces in the world. It’s a pity there were no cameras back then because the face he must have made upon seeing the new prince of Romania would have been priceless.

However, the young ruler quickly recovered and began modernizing not only the Romanian capital but also other towns and villages. New roads, factories, and eventually railway lines were being built throughout the country. After implementing various reforms, the subjects loved him, and when he defended the country from the Turks, he was hailed as the saviour of Romanians and in 1881, he ascended the throne as the rightful king of Romania.

Time to Build Something Proper: The History of Peles Castle

Finally, Carol thought about himself and the fact that it would not be fitting for a member of the most distinguished family in Europe, and perhaps the world, to live in just any house. So, he planned a new residence for himself, a palace befitting the European powers. In 1873, construction began on solid rock in the town of Sinaia.

Construction started briskly, and a multitude of builders, led by the finest architects, worked like ants in an anthill, erecting a palace that was supposed to remind Carol of his homeland. They decided to build a giant residence modelled after the one in Sigmaringen, where Carol had taken his first steps as a child.

After a few years, the walls were erected, and interior designers, who did not consider costs, began finishing the palace rooms with everything that adorned European palaces at the time. In October 1883, Carol I could throw an inaugural ball, boasting one of the most modern and beautiful royal residences in Europe at the time. What was not there: sculptures specially ordered from the best Italian workshops, mirrors, and chandeliers made by artists from the Murano islands in Venice.

An incredible collection of trinkets made of precious metals and about 50 clocks that were true works of art (Why so many, you ask? Apparently, Carol I did not like being late), as well as more mundane things like an lift system that allowed overstuffed banquet aristocrats to avoid climbing the breathtaking stairs, or a central vacuum system. Simply full luxury.

However, this did not mean that the work was finished. They continued for many years because whenever new technological innovations appeared, Carol had to have them in his palace. A year later, the first power generator was installed in Peles Castle, and in 1897, the first power plant was built near the estate, which in 1906 powered, among other things, a cinema hall. This home cinema, which fascinated the King of Romania and his guests, turned out to be the first cinema in all of Romania.

Polish Contribution to the Castle’s Construction

One day, a man named Franciszek Rychnowski, a well-known and respected inventor from Lviv specializing in central heating systems, crossed the palace’s threshold. Thanks to him, Peles Castle was a cosy, warm nest even on the coldest days. Franciszek did such a good job that he was awarded the Gold Service Medal Serviciu Credinciosu I class by Carol, which led to other spectacular commissions, but that’s a story for another time.

As you probably noticed, Carol, I had a penchant for technological innovations. He invited people who helped him modernize the already modern building into the walls of his residence.

How Peles Castle Survived the Turmoil of Both Wars

Exactly, tell me, how did such a castle, a powerful and valuable building with many priceless exhibits, survive the turmoil of World War I, the entire period of World War II? Most importantly, it survived the communist dictatorship with Nicolae Ceaușescu at the helm. How is it possible that at a time when our monuments were being burned and the interior furnishings of our castles and palaces were being shipped to Moscow, everything in the Romanian palace remained practically intact?

The answer is probably more complex than it might seem, but one of the castle’s employees revealed that during World War II, the Germans left the castle to the royal family and allowed them to live there throughout the war. After all, they were Hohenzollerns, fellow countrymen. After the war, for the first two years, the respected king effectively resisted the authorities so much that the Russians did not lay their hands on the incredible treasures hidden within the palace walls.

Although in 1947 King Michael I of Romania was forced to abdicate, and the property passed to the state treasury, it survived intact thanks to the castle curators who convinced the communists that the wooden interior was mouldy. It was not worth risking living within the castle walls. Frightened by the dangerous mould, the Russians abandoned the idea of establishing their residence there. In 1953, a museum was established, which you are now visiting with me.

Visiting Peles Castle in Fast-Paced Mode

Even entering the town of Sinaia shows what we are dealing with. Most of the old houses and estates around the castle were built to maintain architectural coherence with the residence. Although today this harmony is disturbed by inserted concrete blocks, we are not here to tour Sinaia but Peles Castle, which is extremely charming.

So, we buy tickets, pay an exorbitant amount for the privilege of taking pictures, and stand in a giant queue, and this is quite early in the morning and in the middle of the week. It’s scary to think about what happens here on weekends. Different languages are heard all around, with the most prominent one sounding like a powerful machine gun—German.

Finally, we enter and begin the marathon, or rather, the sprint. It’s probably the first time I’ve had such mixed feelings after visiting a monument. Usually, it was either I was satisfied because the exhibits and place were interesting, or dissatisfied because the decor was poor, and it was boring. Here it’s different; there are so many exhibits that you can’t grasp them even in a whole day, and the interiors are so beautiful they take your breath away. However, everything is ruined by the imposed pace of the tour—it’s simply absurd.

I admit that I don’t know what the guide was talking about! I just started snapping photos at a rapid pace, and yet I was urged to finish because my group was in another room. A real tragicomedy. Only at home, after downloading the photos from the camera, did I manage to calmly look at all the details and truly see the craftsmanship of the artists who decorated Peles Castle?

If I had been given more time to go around all the available rooms at my pace, which number just 30, I would probably have spent several hours in the castle. Believe me (I know, I’m repeating myself), it is simply phenomenal. When I think that it was most likely similar in the Palace of Marianna Oraska, it was almost the same period, I feel sorry that not all the marvels once gathered there have survived to our times. We have to go all the way to Romania to see such wonders. But it is what it is.

Summary of Our Visit to the Romanian Castle

Peles Castle is phenomenal, but has its drawbacks in the form of too tight visiting times and ticket prices, along with the nonsensical fee for taking photos. So, is it worth travelling such a distance to see this Romanian castle? I think it is. What’s more, if I have the chance to come here again, I will do so without hesitation and recommend it to you. Despite all the inconveniences, you won’t be disappointed.

Peles Castle information, and interesting facts

• Not far from Peles Castle there are two palaces, Pelisor and Foisor, built for the needs of the royal family. Pelisor Palace is open to the public.
• The collection in Peles Castle consists of: 4,000 pieces of antique weapons, 1,500 pieces of unique glass masterpieces, 5,500 exhibits of silver and other precious metals, and a collection of stained-glass with which 800 windows were decorated.
• King Michael I of Romania regained the estate in 2006 and in return for payment, he opened the castle to visitors.
• Peles Castle was the first European castle completely lit by electricity.
• Peles Castle has hosted many important historical figures, from musicians and writers, to kings and queens. The most significant visit was the arrival of the Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, Franz Joseph, in 1886. It is said that he liked the castle and its surroundings so much that he ordered his photographer to take as many photos as possible so that he could see it at any time.
• The castle has a theatre with 60 seats, with a glass ceiling above it. Interestingly, the roof is powered by an electric motor and can be moved.
• Several musical evenings organized by Queen Elizabeth took place in the music hall. The furniture is a gift from the Maharaja of Kapurtala.
• The construction of the castle cost approximately 120 million dollars. That is approximately PLN 400 million.

Romanian Castle practical information

Polish version