Peleș Castle

Today a historical monument, the castle was home to several Romanian monarchs including King Carol I, who died here in 1914. Located in Sinaia - 44 km from Brașov, in Prahova country - the Neo-Renaissance castle is set on an medieval route linking Transylvania and Wallachia, built between 1873 and 1883.

The German prince Carol I de Hohenzollern - was to become a king - chose the location. Although the building of the castle began in 1873 under the direct order of the Viennese architect Wilhem Doderer, the castle was inaugurated only on October 7, 1883. The work was abandoned during 1877-1879 because of the war. The Guard's Chambers, The Economat Building, The Foisor Hunting House, The Royal Stables, and the Electrical Power Plant are annexed to the castle, and were built simultaneously.

The castle has over 160 rooms and was built in wood, stone, bricks and marble. The seven terraces that surround it are decorated with statues, Carara marble and stone-made-fountains. The luxurious interior is also abundantly decorated with paintings, statues, ceramics, gold and silver plates, the Meissen and Sevres porcelain, the Murano crystal chandeliers, German stained-glass windows, walls covered with Cordoba leather, ebony and ivory sculptures, as well as the extensive weapon collections

Close to the Peles Castle is the "Little Peles" called The Pelișor, a 70 room small castle. The successor of Carol I intended to use it as a summer residence, since he found the Peles overwhelming and wanted a more private, art-nouveau style residence.