Peles Castle

Peleş Castle (Romanian: Castelul Peleş /kas'te.lul 'pe.leʃ/) is a romantic castle in Sinaia, Romania, built between 1873 and 1883, and is considered by some to be the most beautiful in Europe and in the world. In 2006, the Romanian government announced that the castle will be returned to King Michael.

History
On 22 August, 1875, the foundation for Peleş Castle, the city of Sinaia, and indeed for the country of Romania itself was established. The construction site, the Peleş Creek Valley, was bought on this date by ruler Carol I (Carol of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen 1866-81, later King of Romania 1881-1914). Several other buildings, annexed to the castle, were built simultaneously: The Guard's Chambers, The Economat Building, The Foişor Hunting House, The Royal Stables, and the Electrical Power Plant. The "Sipot" Villa was constructed later. This would serve as the work site of architect Karel Liman. Liman would later supervise the building of Pelişor (1889-1903, the future residence of King Ferdinand and Queen Mary of Romania), as well as of the King's Ferdinand Vila in the Royal Sheepfold Meadow (the actual Sheefold Meadow).

Until the completion in 1883 of Peleş Castle, King Carol I and Queen Elizabeth lived in Foişor Villa (where King Ferdinand and Queen Mary also resided during the construction of Pelişor Castle). Even King Carol II lived in Foişer Villa when he was King of Romania (1930-40, except in 1932-3 when the hunting house was destroyed by fire).

Peleş Castle was designed in the neo-Renaissance style, first by German architect Wilhelm Doderer and later by Johannes Schultz (1876-1883). Later additions were made between 1893 and 1914 by the Czech architect Karel Liman. It was originally used as the summer residence of the royal family. It also serves as the burial site of King Carol I after his death in 1914.

Peleş Castle has over 170 rooms, unlike Pelişor Castle which has only 70. Worthy of mention is the fact that Peleş Castle is the first European castle entirely lit by electrical current. This was possible because electricity was produced by its own electrical plant which was located on the bank of Peleş creek.

It is also important to know that Peleş Castle shelters one of the most important and most valuable painting collections in Europe, almost 2,000 pieces. After King Michael's forced abdication by the communists in 1947 the whole Peleş complex except the homonymous castle which was opened for tourism became, for a short time, a creation and resting place for Romanian cultural personalities. During the last years of the communist regime, Nicolae Ceauşescu closed the entire area. The only persons accepted in this area were maintenance and military guard personnel. The whole area was declared a state protocol interest area.

It is interesting to note that Ceauşescu did not like the castle very much and visited rarely. After the December 1989 Revolution, Peleş and Pelişor Castles were re-integrated into the tourism circuit. At this moment, The Foişor Castle remains - like in the past times - a presidential residence, unlike the Economat Building and the Guard's Chambers Building where hotels, restaurants and terraces have been established. The other components of Peleş complex became either tourism villas or state protocol buildings. Still, the most interesting account about Peleş Castle remains the one that comes from Angelo de Gubernatis (1840-1913), an Italian writer, who arrived in 1898 in Sinaia, as a guest of the Royal Family:

Inaugurated in 1883, Peleş Castle is not only a pleasant place during summer time; it has been conceived to be also a national monument, meant to keep the trophies of the Plevna victory, which explains the simple but majestic style. The castle's courtyard - Bramantes type - with a fountain in the middle, in the most accurate Renaissance style, pleasantly surprises the visitor. The courtyard has a merry decoration, made out of plants and flowers; all round, the building's facades are animated by elegant drawings. The interior of the castle is a true wonder, due to the beauty and richness of the sculpted wood and the stained glass windows. As you get in the vestibule, you are on the Honor Staircase, in front of the most important rulers of old Romania: Holy Stephen the Great, and Michael the Brave. In a proud attitude, wearing whether a fur cap or with the gold crown on their heads, they impress through the brilliant dressing, in which the white of ermine blends with the emerald green or the red of the large mantle. On the right and on left side of the two rulers, as servant knights, four shield bearers carry the Romanian Provinces escutcheons. Inside the Queen's library, over the groups of children symbolizing poetry and science, there is the image of Ulfilas (311-383 a.d.) a Goth religious ruler, from the northem side of Danube River, translating the Bible in their language and bringing his contribution in spreading Christianity, a Christian apostle of the Romans, and the image of Dante Alighieri, the creator of western poetry. Passing the library and getting into the dormitory, we will meet the image of Genies and Allegories of Painting and Music, as well as a series of legendary themes. Inside the apartments reserved for the honor guests, a number of coat-of-arms were shining through their heraldic abundance, speaking about the ancestors of the Royal Family. But among all, the glass paintings from the Peleş Castle are, beyond any doubt, the most profound and shining. Here, the subjects are taken out of Alecsandri's poetry.

The Museum

Many parts of the castle are accessible to the public. However, an important area in the upper levels is off limits. The visiting hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m Wednesday through Sunday. On Mondays the castle is closed and on Tuesdays the hours are till 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. These visiting hours are subject to change due to tourist seasons. Admission fee is 3 euros.

Location
Northwest of the town of Sinaia, 60 km from Braşov and 135 km away from Bucharest, Romania's capital.

Features
The castle has 160 rooms, notable among them are:

* Big Armoury Room
* Small Armoury Room
* Florentine Room
* Reception Room
* Moorish Room
* French Room
* Turkish Room
* Council Room
* Concert Room
* Imperial Suite