Sinaia

Places of Interest - Romania

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introduction

The royal Sinaia, named after the Egyptian desert, is located in the Prahova district at the foot of the Bucegige mountains.

The town is best known as the ski resort of Romania, but also as the place where the first king of the country Carol I had his summer residence. The town owes its name to the visit of a Romanian nobleman who visited the Holy Land in the 17th century and came back and founded the monastery of the same name in Sinaia.

When Carol I settled here in 1875, the village gained national fame and a decent "boost". Just north of the city was the Hungarian-Romanian border until 1920. The city lies between Bucharest and Brasov and can easily be visited on a day trip, even though the town and its surroundings really deserve more than a few hours.

highlights

Peles castle:

In 1875 the construction of this very "sheik" and stylish palace (certainly not a castle) ,started as a summer residence of the first king of Romania (Carol I), was built. It is built in a German-Renaissance style with many turrets, large, very tasteful conference rooms with Moorish, Florentine and French influences.

A lot of wood has been used and it seems to have been the first European palace that used central heating and electricity. Queen Elisabeth was largely responsible for the furniture and decoration of this "playful" castle. The king himself could only enjoy it for a few months - when the construction was finished he died (1914).

During Communist times it was mostly used for state visits - for example, the American presidents Ford and Nixon stayed here, but also the old Libyan leader Gaddafi and old PLO leader Arrafat. See also museum (below).

Other attractions:

The castle Pelisor and the Sinaia monastery.

tips & advice (2004)

The train station, located in the center, is not far from the monastery and the Peles castle.

Sinaia - Brasov: there are very frequent trains to and from Brasov - the journey takes an hour and costs about 18.50 Lei (2010)

Name: Peles castle

Price: 15 Lei (2010)

Time: 09:00 (11:00 Tuesday) - 16: 15/17: 00

Phone nr. : 0244-310205

Content:

The palace is to be reached by a 20-minute walk through the forest (do not mind the bear - if he is still there, chained in front of the tourists). Only with a "tour" you can take a look at the "luxury" castle built for Romanian first king Carol I. This takes about 40 minutes and takes you through the most important rooms of the palace.

It is only a shame that there is no look in the bedrooms upstairs where many heads of state have resided worldwide as well as the king and queen. During the tour you will be shown by the guide at the secret door in the small library - it turns out that each room has such a shortcut.

If you are interested in the Royal history of Romania or are fond of old palaces then this visit is definitely worth it. The whole "setting" in which the palace is located can be called beautiful.

Sinaia

Places of Interest - Romania

introduction

highlights

tips & advice (2004)

see also:

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