Architectural Masterpieces: Peles Castle, Romania

One of the greatest architectural achievements of the 19th century is the Peles Castle, a magnificent Romanian edifice nestling in the Carpathian mountains. The expressiveness of its architectural style, as well as the upmost historic importance of Peles make this imposing building an enduring symbol of the grandour of past times.

The castle was commissioned by King Carol I of Romania as a summer residence for the royal family. Situated in a magnificent mountain area, the future palace also needed an outstanding design. The first three architectural plans submitted were all rejected by the king, on grounds of lack of originality and expensiveness - as they were copies of other palaces in Western Europe. Finally, the German architect Johannes Schultz came up with an original plan, which leaved up to the expectations: a grand palatial alpine villa combining different features of classic European styles, mostly following Italian elegance and German aesthetics along Renaissance lines. Czech architects Carol Benesch and Karel Liman were also involved in the project - the second was the one who designed the towers of the palace, including the main tower which raises up at 66 meters.

The construction started on 22 August 1873, the castle being inaugurated ten years later, on 7th October 1883. The decorations as seen today were finished only in 1914. Its architectural style is a romantically inspired blend Neo-Renaissance and Gothic Revival similar to Schloss Neuschwanstein in Bavaria. A Saxon influence can be observed in the interior courtyard facades, which have allegorical hand-painted murals and ornate fachwerk similar to that seen in northern European alpine architecture. Interior decoration is mostly Baroque influenced, with heavy carved woods and exquisite fabrics. 

The mixture of styles used at decorating the over 170 rooms of the palace is one of the most outstanding features of the building. All the rooms are extremely lavishly furnished and decorated to the slightest detail, some of them have dedicated themes from world cultures, varying by function: Florentine, Turkish, Moorish, French, Imperial, etc.

The establishment hosts one of the finest collections of art in Eastern and Central Europe, consisting of statues, paintings, furniture, arms and armor, gold, silver, stained glass, ivory, fine china, tapestries, and rugs. A towering statue of King Carol I by Raffaello Romanelli overlooks the main entrance.

After the forced abdication of King Michael I in 1947, the castle was declared a museum in 1953. During the years of Communist regime, the castle was closed for the public between 1975-1990. Since 1990, when it was re-opened as a museum, it has been one of the most visited touristic attractions in Romania.

Apart from its great artistic value, the Peles Castle is also historically remarkable . It has housed numerous important events and ceremonies and has been an exquisite cultural centre, as well, among the guests there having been renowned writers, musicians and artists.

The sense of the glorious past remains alive inside its walls even nowadays. Ever since it was built, the palace has been a symbol of Romania. For every visitor, it gives an insight into Romanian culture and the royal lifestyle; for this reason, it attracts more and more visitors every year. This definitely represents a destination not to be missed!