Peles Castle in Sinaia

Peles Castle in Sinaia, the summer residence of the kings of Romania, was built at the wish of King Carol I of Romania (1866 - 1914), the plans of architects Johannes Schultz, Carol Benesch and Karel Liman, and was decorated by famous designers from JD Heymann Hamburg, August Bembe from Mainz and Bernhard Ludwig in Vienna.Peles Castle is one of the most important of historic buildings in Romania, with unique character and is historical and artistic value, one of the most important monuments of its kind in Europe of the second half of the nineteenth century.Prince Charles, elected prince of Romania in 1866, Sinaia first visit in August of that year and remained impressed by the beauty of those places. At that time, Sinaia was a small mountain village called Bridge Neagului. Prince decides to build a castle in a secluded and picturesque Piatra Arsa. A few years later, in 1872, he bought land (1,000 acres), and work begins in 1873, under the architects Johannes Schultz, Carol Benesch and Karel Liman. First, workers have made efforts to control unpredictable elements of nature, such as underground water courses or landslides.The 300 workers who worked there they had two years to complete the arrangements, all the while, the prince personally supervised in detail work. In 1875 to lay the cornerstone of the castle, which are buried under dozens of gold coins of 20 lei, the first Romanian coins with the image of Charles I.Peles CastleIn 1883 has officially opened the Peles, which the prince saw as a "seat" of the new dynasty. Prahova Valley and its placing was not random. Not far, in Predeal, Romania was then the Austro Hungarian border. However, in future, after the union of Transylvania with the Old Kingdom, the castle is found in the heart of the country.Peles will gain increasing importance then, became the summer residence of Romanian Royal Family, which spent here very long, usually from May to November. Here were held important political meetings, as was advised by Crown in 1914 (when he decided Romanian neutrality in World War I, which just started) and 1925.Castle has hosted many figures of the time, writers, musicians, and kings and queens. The most important visit was that of the old Austro-Hungarian emperor, Franz Joseph in 1896. He did a lot of photos on that occasion, was impressed by the beauty and richness of the castle. In 1906 expect a new visit to the king, to celebrate 40 years of the reign of King Charles I. On this occasion the castle was furnished apartment imperial, but Franz Joseph's visit has not occurred.Even after his inauguration in 1883, Peles will be modified, extending the time. In its current form is reached only in 1914 (year of death of King Charles I). The castle has 160 rooms and several entrances and interior stairs. The central tower measuring not less than 66 meters high. In addition Peles itself in the area were erected two smaller facilities, Pelisor and Watchtower.Peles has a theater room with a small stage and 60 seats, plus the royal box. Castle have very modern equipment for the time it was built. For example, the glass ceiling of the hall of honor is mobile and can be driven by an electric motor. Since 1883, the castle has central heating.Besides the castle was built Pelisor, Body Guard, Economat, Arbour House Hunting, stables, power plants and Villa Sipot. By the end of the castle (1883), King Charles I and Queen Elizabeth, lived at the lodge, completed before the castle. Due to its electrical plant, Peles Castle was first electrified in Europe.Peles was particularly important for our history. Here was born, in 1893, the future King Charles II (1930-1940), first king of the dynasty born on Romanian soil and the first baptized in the Orthodox religion. In 1921, the Pavilion, was born his son, King Mihai I. In 1921, there is the Peles, the wedding of Princess Ileana, one of the sisters of Charles II, in which many personalities of the time, including Nicolae Iorga . Two years later held anniversary celebrations Peles Castle (50 years after starting work).Castle remains the residence of the royal family until 1948, when seized by the communist regime. Peles will become a museum in 1953, but said he should be visited, since the time of King Charles I. In 1990, Pelisor is open for public visitation.A simple calculation shows that between 1875 and 1914 were spent over 16 million lei Peles gold.Peles CastleIt is interesting to note that Nicolae Ceausescu rarely visited the castle. A story circulating in the 80s said that Ceausescus wished to establish a protocol residence at Peles.Knowing that they had the anger to order all kinds of demolition and changes curators have scared saying that within the castle is a fungus that attacks wood elements and is very harmful to man. In fact, the truth is that a fungus had attacked the building beams due to moisture and neaerisirii. For this reason restoration work began, replaced structure of the hall of honor and strength of the ground floor living room. Cautious Ceausescus spent one night at the Castle, sleeping in the arbor.After the Revolution of 1989, Peles and Pelisor were reintegrated into the tourist circuit. In 2006, the Romanian government announced the return of former King Michael Castle of România.Contrar rumors, castle Romanian state has not been sold for $ 30 million. Restitution was made effective on February 20, 2007. Although privately owned Royal, Michael decided to keep the quality of the museum of the castle, leaving the tourist circuit.MuseumCastle was declared a museum in 1953. In recent years the communist regime between 1975 - 1990, Nicolae Ceausescu ordered the closure to the public domain. The only people allowed in this area were the maintenance, military and security personnel. The entire area was declared an area of ​​interest protocol.The most important rooms visited are:

    Hall of Honor is grand, paneled in walnut, lined with bas-reliefs and statues. Mobile glass ceiling, driven by an electric motor or a manual system, was an element of surprise for visitors to the king, who could admire the blue sky in summer nights. It was completely finished until 1911, under the guidance of Karel Liman.

    Royal Library attracts enthusiasts especially rare books with leather covers and engraved with golden letters. Even for those less familiar with the universe of books, there is an attraction: the secret door, a passageway behind a shelf of books, which the king could escape into the various rooms of the Castle.

    The Arms, designed during the years 1903 - 1906, hosting over 4000 pieces of European and Oriental XIV - XVII centuries. The most precious are considered German armor from the XVI - XVII and full armor for horse and rider, unique in Romania.

    Hall became a music hall musical evenings at the wish of Queen Elizabeth. The furniture here was received as a gift from the Maharajah of Kapurtala.

    Florentina room, called the Grand Salon, impressive carved in lime wood ceiling, gilded chandeliers and two large neorenasterii Italian style decoration.

    Hall architect Charles Maurice is Lecompte du Nouy, ​​with Spanish-Moorish elements, with a fountain of Carrara marble, copy a song from Cairo.

    Theater has 60 seats and the royal box, decorated in the style of Louis XIV.

    At first floor are the Concert Hall, arranged in 1906, found a harpsichord made in Antwerp in 1621, a Bluthner grand piano and an organ Rieger vertical two keyboards.

    Imperial Suite was arranged in 1906 during the visit all the Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Josef I, invited to the anniversary of 40-year reign of King Charles I.
Other facilities are:

    Hall Councils, which resembles one of the rooms Hall in Lucerne, Switzerland.

    Office work where there is an impressive office and a desk for the audience.

    Dining room, exhibiting pieces of silver of great value, is located on the 1st floor and has a fringe rustic furniture from the eighteenth century.

    Show Turkish vessels that houses a collection of Turkish and Persian in brass.

    Royal bedroom is lit by a chandelier of Bohemian crystal.
Stained Peles Castle was purchased and installed between 1883 and 1914, most of which were brought from Switzerland and Germany, parts dating from the XV and XVII. Also, Castle has seven terraces decorated with stone statues, fountains and ornamental vases of Carrara marble.After Bran Castle, Peles is considered the second largest museum in the country sought by tourists. Only in 2006 they crossed the threshold over 250,000 visitors in the country and the U.S., Australia, Japan and New Zealand. In the first six months of 2010, 80,000 tourists visited the Peles Castle. Castle importance is given and existing security measures: military guard, guards and cameras.ControversiesThe communist regime propagated the idea that the Peles Royal Domain Domain were part of the Crown, and thus Romania property. The historical truth is that Peles Castle, as well as Pelişor and Arbour, was built in personal money of King Carol I, who sold an estate in Germany to pay court costs and raising the building. King avoided using money from the civil list, so the field was never part of the Crown domains, the properties were made available only to the sovereign state. After the death of King Carol I, the property passes to King Ferdinand I and his dynastic successor, Michael I. King Charles II had never owned field in Sinaia and thus grandson of morganatic marriage with Elena Lambrino has no proprietary.LocationPeles Castle is located in Sinaia, Prahova Valley (44 km from Brasov and 122 km from Bucharest), on E60 (DN1). Numerous rail trains in Ploiesti and Brasov Sinaia destined.Recently it was open to the public an extensive tour that includes the first floor and attic I and II. So there is one floor (actually the last) not open to the public, serving as floor space for storage of various objects, paintings and so on. The guide is available in five foreign roundworm.