Romania’s Elegant Peles Castle

No, there was no King Pele.  It is not Pele’s Castle; it is Peles Castle. The royal castle was built during Romania’s golden age when the country was rich in oil, minerals, agriculture, and newly opened international trade that developed when Romania gained independence from the Ottoman Empire.  Wealth was accumulated.

King Carol I, the first king of Romania, commissioned the construction of the Peles Palace in 1890 as his summer retreat in the picturesque Bucegi Mountains near Sinaia, Transylvania. Although not complete until 1914, the King began using the castle as a summer palace beginning in 1883. He died before the place was completed.

Over 700 architects were involved in its design and construction using only the finest of detail and design elements, the finest materials, and the finest craftsmen and artists. Unlike other world-famous royal summer palaces like Versailles and St. Petersburg, this is not an enormous structure of marble, gilded in gold. Instead, the best woods were used to create carved walls and ceilings. In the Hall of Honor, for example, there are over 3500 figured hand-carved in wood. Fine inlays are seamless. Chandeliers and mirror frames are made of Merano crystal, the parquet floors are accented with rare Persian rugs, and walls are decorated with art, and French tapestries. The palace is stunning, and stupendous, and although left to deteriorate during communist rule, Romania restored the castles’ luster in 2006 using original art and original furnishings.

The sumptuous alpine castle sits alongside the Peles River and overlooks an enchanting fresh-air forest and valley below.  The castle has 160 rooms, 30 bathrooms as well as a movie theatre and concert hall.  Well ahead of its time, it was the first castle to have electric lighting throughout, central heat, central vacuum system, and modern plumbing as well. Powered by a hidden electric motor, the German and Swiss stained-glass ceiling in the Hall of Honors slides open enabling the King to show off the night sky to his guests.  In terms of modern money, its cost would be about $120 million, all financed by the King’s personal funds and public taxation and support. 

Stan and I agreed, it was the finest castle or palace either of us have ever seen . . . and as Stan often says, “We’ve seen a plenty.” 

We visited Bran’s Castle and Peles Castle on the same day. While Bran’s Castle commands a visit, Pele’s Castle is a stunning, authentic peek into Romania’s grand sophistication, splendor, and wealth. 

We stopped at the Rasnov Fortress on the Transylvania castle tour but after seeing two magnificent castles in one day, this fort high atop a hill overlooking the village of Rasnov was just that, another ancient fort.  Besides being built in 1225, the other interesting point is the fortress was not a military installation.  Instead, the people of Rasnov built the fortress themselves as a place of refuge for the villagers when under siege. 

Last night when we talked with Cody, our daughter, she said her colleagues asked her, “Why are they spending time in Romania?” as if why not Paris or Timbuktu.  She answered, “They wanted to see Eastern Europe and I think they are enjoying Romania.”   

“Tell them to read my stories.” I told her, “They will then see why and want to visit this country as well.” 

Romania is indeed a young country; it just came into its own after World War I. Yet its enchanting old-world charm is like a beautiful fabric woven from Roman, German, Hungarian, and even Turkish threads. However terrible, deplorable, and oppressive, 42 years under communism too, had some positive impacts and influences on Romania. In total, after the pot is completely mixed and stewed, a delectable dish of culture uniquely Romanian is being served

I am in awe of it.