THE PELES CASTLE

What is the peles castle?

The Peles castle is a Neo-Renaissance castle in Romania's Carpathian Mountains, near Sinaia, in
Prahova County constructed between 1873 and 1914 on an existing medieval route between
Transylvania and Wallachia. In 1883, it was officially inaugurated. It was built for Carol I, King of
Romania.

Why was the castle built?

Peles Castle was built at the invitation of King Carol I, to serve as a summer residence, but to also serve
for political, cultural and symbolic functions. After 1914, Peles Castle continued to furfill its function of
representation and museum, but in addition, it would only be lived in 6 months a year, as the founding
ssovereign used to. Until 1947, it became a courtroom for official visits or hosted military ceremonies.
The most important event organized in Sinaia and hosted by the Peles Castle until the abdication of
King Michael, in December 1947, was related to the celebration of the castle's half-century in 1933 by
King Charles II (1930-1940).

Where is the castle?

Peles Castle is located in Sinaia, in the Prahova Valley, on the European route E60 (44 km from Brasov
and 122 km from Bucharest) (DN1). There are several trains that depart from Ploiești or Brașov and
travel to Sinaia. It was built on a terrain named Piatra arsa ( or mosia Sinaia) wich coverso around 1000
hectars of land.

Who built the castle?

Architects: Wilhelm von Doderer (1872–1876), professor at Vienna's Technische Hochschule, Johannes
Schultz (1873, site manager, Doderer's assistant, and chief architect from 1876 to 1883), Émile André
Lecomte du Noüy (1890–1892), Karel Liman (1896–1924); Jean Ernest, contractors, builders, and
owners of construction materials warehouses