Peles Castle is nestled in the forests of the Southern Carpathians, on Prahova Valley, just above and beyond the town of Sinaia. Its history is tied to that of Romania and the Romanian kings.
The Castle visiting hours: Wednesdays through Sundays from 9am to 5pm, Tuesdays from 11am to 5pm, but are subject to change due to tourist seasons. Many parts of the castle are accessible to the public except an important area in the upper levels.
Peles Castle has 160 rooms filled with European Art, crystal chandeliers, stained-glass windows, porcelains and a collection of over 2000 paintings.
Each room was furnished to reflect a different European country.
In the center of the castle is the Hall of Honour, which is three storeys tall. The room is a magnificent display of inlaid woods, carvings, statues, and tapestries. The stained-glass ceiling lets in the daylight, and can be retracted, either manually or electronically.
The exterior is in the German neo-Renaissance style, with rich, darkly carved wood, spires, and murals in the inner courtyard.
Peles Castle is surrounded by seven terraces and gardens, statues and fountains. Of particular note are the statues of King Carol I and his wife, Queen Elisabeth of Weid. Elisabeth was a patron of the arts, and several of the rooms contain murals and paintings by her friends. She was also an accomplished artist and author herself. Her books of poetry and novels were published under the nom de plume Carmen Sylva.
It was the first castle in Europe to have central heating and electricity produced by its own electrical power plant on the bank of Peles creek.
Peles Castle InfoRomania highlights
- Bicaz Gorges
- Biertan
- Black Sea
- Bran Castle
- Carpathian Mountains
- Curtea de Arges
- Danube Delta
- Dracula sites
- Huniazi Castle
- Peles Castle
- Prahova Valley
- Sighisoara
- Spa resorts
- Gerovital cures
