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Sinaia, Romania (May 2006)

Sinaia, Romania is a town and a mountain resort on an existing medieval route linking Transylvania and Wallachia in Prahova County, Romania. Sinaia was named after Sinaia Monastery. King Carol I of Romania (1839–1914), under whose reign the country gained its independence, built his summer home, the Neo-Renaissance Peles Castle, near the town. Built between 1873 and 1914, Peles Castle was inaugurated in 1883. The first three design plans submitted for Peles Castle were copies of other palaces in Western Europe. King Carol I rejected them as unoriginal and too costly. German architect Johannes Schultz won the project by presenting a more original plan, a palatial alpine villa combining features of classical European styles, including Italian elegance and German aesthetics along Renaissance lines. The resulting castle was magnificent and is an architectural asset to Romania.
Sinaia, Romania cover page.
Sinaia, Romania cover page.		 Map of Romania with the star indicating Sinaia.
Map of Romania with the star indicating Sinaia.		 Peles Castle was built in the 19th century by Carol of Hohenzollern, the first king of Romania.
Peles Castle was built in the 19th century by Carol of Hohenzollern, the first king of Romania.		 Sign in Sinaia for Peles and Pelisor Castles. Peles Castle was built in a neo-German Renaissance style.
Sign in Sinaia for Peles and Pelisor Castles. Peles Castle was built in a neo-German Renaissance style.
Peles has 160 rooms and a 66 meter central tower. It was royal summer residence until 1974.
Peles has 160 rooms and a 66 meter central tower. It was royal summer residence until 1974.		 Peles Castle is a museum exhibiting the castle's furniture, sculptures, paintings & artifacts.
Peles Castle is a museum exhibiting the castle's furniture, sculptures, paintings & artifacts.		 View of clock tower and steeple of Peles Castle.
View of clock tower and steeple of Peles Castle.		 The clock tower from another vantage point.
The clock tower from another vantage point.
A view of the lower façade of Peles Castle.
A view of the lower façade of Peles Castle.		 Close-up of the neo-German Renaissance details of the façade.
Close-up of the neo-German Renaissance details of the façade.		 The wonderful neo-German Renaissance courtyard inside the entrance to the castle.
The wonderful neo-German Renaissance courtyard inside the entrance to the castle.		 An ornate lantern inside the courtyard.
An ornate lantern inside the courtyard.
I had to bribe the guard 10 Romanian lei ($3.60 U.S.) to let me take a photo inside the castle!
I had to bribe the guard 10 Romanian lei ($3.60 U.S.) to let me take a photo inside the castle!		 The guard only let me take photos in this one room.
The guard only let me take photos in this one room.		 Medieval weapons on display inside the castle.
Medieval weapons on display inside the castle.		 Nice sculptures outside the castle.
Nice sculptures outside the castle.
Near Peles Castle is Pelisor Castle (Little Peles) built by King Ferdinand. He succeeded Carol.
Near Peles Castle is Pelisor Castle (Little Peles) built by King Ferdinand. He succeeded Carol.		 Peles was too big for Ferdinand, so he built the 70 room, art-nouveau, Pelisor Castle.
Peles was too big for Ferdinand, so he built the 70 room, art-nouveau, Pelisor Castle.		 Another side of Pelisor castle.
Another side of Pelisor castle.		 Me posing in front of Peles Castle.
Me posing in front of Peles Castle.
Lion cub gnawing on a stick piece of wood outside of Peles castle.
Lion cub gnawing on a stick piece of wood outside of Peles castle.		 I wouldn't have been petting him if the cub were an adolescent! He'd be gnawing on my arm, instead!
I wouldn't have been petting him if the cub were an adolescent! He'd be gnawing on my arm, instead!

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fanjetuk16-Jan-2007 19:24
Been Here as well!!!!
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