One memorable destination in Romania, classic for a reason. In the stunning southeastern Carpathian Mountains, a castle designed in German Neo-Renaissance style. A visit here was travel at its best = discovery combined with education.
Feeling the quiet royal charm going near Sinaia, even as a day trip from Bucharest, to visit Peleș Castle and nearby, Pelișor Palace, former residence of the Royal Heirs.
Firstly, the palace complex was commissioned in the 19th century by King Carol I of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, first King of Romania, born in Germany. Is definitely an important piece of the history of my country, a royal link or route near Transylvania.
Travel note
I remember how we reached Peleș Castle in the evening, which I had not seen for many years. It was a pleasant 30 minutes hike from the city center of Sinaia. Since it was too late to visit it, we were content just to look around and admire. It was beautiful because it was dark outside, but the castle had lights and the trees around were covered in snow. Next day was reserved for the city of Sinaia, a climb to 1400 mt in the mountains, and finally we visited Peleș and Pelișor Castles. I had seen both museums only once, 8 years ago.
Although I want to visit as many places as possible, sometimes it does feel wonderful to return to a city after a number of years. Especially in such a pretty one, and to test your memory and senses. There were many parts I remembered, then details I had forgotten, but I realized I also learned new aspects about the pieces of art from the collection.
Somehow I couldn’t forget the beautiful castle’s park and the courtyard, with statues. Next, in the interior, visitors can enter only as part of a guided tour, to the ground floor and first 2 floors. My personal favorite rooms here were the Royal library, made in wood, followed by the Turkish room, and the colorful Florentine one, as well as the main hall with a retractable stained glass ceiling.
Later I read that Gustav Klimt and his brothers travelled to the Peles Castle in order to paint portraits of the ancestors of King Carol I, as well as decorating the Theatre Room and the ceiling of the Grand Salon.
Seeing with new eyes
Lastly, in my pictures and in my travel note I wanted to capture the spirit of this place in a different way… for me was not just a mountain resort, or a tourist destination. Is a dear place I visited in all seasons and areas of my life.
Definitely it was the holiday destination of my childhood, of a school camp and ski lessons. I have memories with snow in winter and with sun during my summer holiday, first with family and later also with colleagues or friends. Best part is that after I got my drivers license, I had even my first long drive from home to Sinaia, and back, so in total about 600 km. Hopefully I will return soon, and see it all again with new eyes.
If you have visited and have stories to share, or plan to one day, please let me know.
Read also – Before Christmas in Bucharest
Feature photo credit – Ines Corcuera via La blouse roumaine
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