German Royal Castles in Romania

The modern Romania was set by the end of the XIXth century with the decisive contribution of the King Carol I, who was the descendant of an aristocratic family from Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen.

It was for sure not easy for the young king coming in a foreign country, despite his efforts to learn Romanian and to understand the strange philosophy and behavior of the Romanian people (also he converted to the Orthodox church). And under these circumstances he took the decision to build a castle which should be his residence during some periods, but also should remember him of his remote beloved first mother country. Who sees first the Castle Peles in Sinaia and the neighborhood doubts for sure to be in Romania, and feels much closer to the German Bavaria.

Peles Castle is an eagle nest in the Carpathians

Due to this castle, Sinaia is still today probably the most notorious mountain resorts in Romania. After His majesty The King Carol I. build the castle, many other prominents build houses here and came regularly as member of the Royal Court. The Castle Peles was build based on the plans and projects of the Vienna architect W. Doderer and K. Liman in the German Renaissance style, and could appear very charged for the today taste. But for an art freak a visit inside is surely a must, and could even turn in an event.

Mirror Room in Peles is one piece of the overwhelming 106 rooms

The Castle has 106 rooms, but don't worry, the guided visit will not lead through all of them! You are going to visit the Big Honor Hall, Council Room, The Old Music Room, Florentin or Arab Room. Observe and note everywhere the good taste : fine furniture, statues, pottery, Gold or Silver works, Murano crystals or Meissen and Sevres porcelain! Simply amazing and overwhelming, and remember that this is not all, only what I can remember! A special mention for the weapon collection, as Carol I was before all a warlord. There are 4000 pieces of weapons, dating back from the XIVth and XVIIth century.

The smaller Castle of Pelisor, you should see it once in your lifetime

No chance to have a lunch within the castle, it is not allowed even to have a coffee, but you will notice  for sure the Coffee Room, a favorite shelter for the gentlemen, where they could enjoy a coffee and a cigar. The King Carol I and the Queen Maria passed the way even here in the castle, and their succesor King Ferdinand build the Castle Pelisor nearby. Pelisor is little, comparing with the Big Peles, only 70 rooms, and was designed by the same Royal architect Karel Liman, and decorated by the Vienna artist Bernhard Ludwig. Very impressive is here the Golden Room, where the Queen Maria had the most important contribution, choosing Art Nouveau style and combining Celtic and Oriental elements. Also to mention, the painting collections of Gustav Klimt or E. Galle, still in fashion after 100 years.

Walk in the wonderful park, enjoy and feel Royal yourself.

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Prahova Valley, a Romanian Royal getaway

If you need to relax and detox, if you need to forget the usual trouble and the daily routine, I have the right medicine for you. I really recommend to go from Bucharest to Brasov, through Ploiesti on the A1 highway, along the spectacular Prahova Valley. But please keep in mind, that this highway is the busiest in Romania, and you must avoid it during the week end rush hours, e.g. Friday and Sunday afternoon.

The Prahova is simply superb,  meanders through Bucegi and Baiului Mountains, and could be named The Royal Valley of Romania, because the former King Carol I used to live here, in Sinaia, where he managed to build the fantastic Peles Castle from stone, wood and precious materials. Consequently, all his suite adopted Sinaia as a summer Capital. Ever since that period, the beginning of XXth century, the skiers and mountain climbers are the masters of these places.

Valea Prahovei is simply superb, the best place to disconnect from anything else.

Due to its proximity to Bucharest, Prahova Valley was an important connection between Wallachia and Transilvania., centuries before opening of a railway and a highway in 1880. Because the old highway is obsolete and overcrowded sometimes, there are plans for building a speed highway between Bucharest and Budapest, but the environmental price will be huge ( nowadays in the big forests of the area you can still find bears, wolves and lynxes). The legendary stylish train Orient Express drove this way on his long journey between Paris and Istanbul.

Peles Castle in Sinaia is a must see for any art freak

On the way to the mountains, discover first the quiet town of Campina, where you can find two interesting museums. One of them refers to Nicolae Grigorescu, the most important Romanian painter from all times, which lived here during its last years of life, and left his last masterpiece unaccomplished. He started his career by painting churches and monasteries, and finally an important politician, impressed by his paintings, offered him a scholarship in Paris. Nowadays, if you have the chance to buy a painting of grigorescu, please don't hesitate, it is a safer placement than gold! The secon interesting museum in Campina is Hasdeu Memorial Museum, with a very strange spiritual atmosphere, as Hasdeu, an important political and cultural personality, tried to further communicate with his beloved genial daughter Julia, died at 18 years.

Further, you reach the town of Breaza, which is simply very long, build mainly along the street, and very famous due to its excellent golf coarse. Afterwards, within minutes, you are in Sinaia, and you don't need to hurry up anymore. Enjoy Sinaia in all its splendor, it deserves. The quiet town is very animated on week ends, but in the rest of time keeps an interesting flair of the beginning of XXth Century. After King Carol set here his summer residence emmerged many luxury villas, his suite visited the Casino, and took part to hunting. If you are an art freak, don't miss the Peles Castle, it is simply superb. It was an avangarde building for Romania of those times, heated and electrified. Observe please the wood works, while going from the honor room in the weapon and Marocco room! Next to it, the Pelisor Castle, a paradise for Art Nouveau freaks.

Go deep in the Mountains by the cabin, if you are in the mood to climb them.  Further, before reaching Brasov, find Busteni and Predeal, very important for addicted skiers.

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