Castle lovers must add this one to the top of their list!
Perhaps my favorite attraction from my visit to Romania, and indeed my favorite castle visited to date, Peleș Castle is a must visit for anyone who finds themselves in Romania for a vacation.
A Neo-Renaissance castle which is tucked away at the top of the town of Sinaia in the Carpathian Mountains, this castle is often overshadowed by the more popular Bran Castle (known as Dracula’s Castle). However, I personally found Peleș a lot more impressive in its grandeur. Built for Carol I – the first king of Romania, the castle was completed in 1914. Utilising craftsmen from all over Europe, the castle was constructed with a wide variety of influences taken from the likes of Romanian, German, Italian, Moorish, French, and Turkish styles.
Indeed, video game fans will probably more recently recognize this castle as being used as the main point of inspiration for Castle Dimitrescu in the Resident Evil Village, the newest addition in the long-standing Japanese survival horror series.
The level of detail here seemed unparalleled
History & Facts
Peleș Castle was initially commissioned by King Carol I, who was Romania’s first king when it became an independent nation. He wanted an ideal location to build a summer home for the Romanian royal family. After falling in love with the scenery in the Sinaia region of the Carpathian Mountains, which falls on an ancient medieval route that connected Transylvania and Wallachia, he chose the plot where Peleș Castle now sits.
Ground-breaking began in 1873, and construction lasted until 1914 – a grand total of 41 years! And the long process really shows in the intricacy of the final product.
After completion, Peleș Castle remained a residence of the Romanian royal family until King Michael I was compelled to abdicate in 1946 by the Communist regime that had taken control of the country. It afterwards became a public museum in 1953 for a brief stint, but was shut down in 1975. The castle remained closed to the public until the revolution that took place in 1989. From which point it was reopened to the public. Today, it continues to be one of the most popular tourist attractions in the entire country – welcoming well over 500 thousand visitors every year.
The interior is just as enchanting as the exterior
As for the castle features, it contains an impressive 168 rooms (which includes 30 bathrooms). Numerous rooms feature distinct styles that have been heavily inspired by various other foreign designs. Similarly, the castle has its own collection of over 4000 pieces of weapons in its armoury collection, and well over 2000 paintings spread throughout the castle’s many rooms. Don’t think that’s all though, each room and hallway is packed with magnificent antiques, relics and artefacts of various kinds.
It is truly a magical place to explore, both inside and out. So, make sure to add this to the top of your list when you plan a visit to Romania – especially since it can be easily reached from all major tourist hubs throughout the nation!
The castle grounds are completely free and make for a lovely exploration on their own
The grand hallway is as grand as the name
Don't forget to check out the surrounding areas around the castle
The perfect study space, or the perfect procrastination?
How to Get There
I found getting to Peleș an extremely straightforward process that can be done easily from either Bucharest or Brasov.
By far the best way to make it to Peleș Castle is by train. If coming from Bucharest simply head to Gara de Nord station and take any train heading to Brasov, they run on a regular basis. Tickets can be purchased from automatic ticket machines dotted around the station for 40lei ($8.27/£6.85/€8.12), and you’ll be selecting Sinaia as your destination. It will take around 1 and a half hours to reach Sinaia train station from Bucharest. From the station you have the option of taking a taxi or bus up to the castle, or if you would like to walk like myself, then be prepared to walk around 40 minutes uphill to reach the entrance as it is located above and past the town itself.
Similarly, if coming from Brasov, you will want to head to the city’s main train station and buy a ticket destined for Sinaia. From here the journey is slightly quicker; just over one hour, to be exact.
Driving is also an option for anyone with their own wheels. Parking spots can be found throughout the town of Sinaia, as the Castle itself doesn’t have its own car park. So again, be prepared to do a bit of walking if necessary.
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