Peles Royal Castle
Peles Castle in Sinaia, which is the summer residence of the kings of Romania, was built at the wish of King Carol I of Romania (1866-1914), by architect Johannes Schultz, Carol Benesch and Karel Liman, and was decorated by famous decorators Heymann Hamburg, August Bembe and Bernhard Ludwig.
Peles Castle is one of the most important buildings of Romania's history, having a defined character and is, by its historical and artistic value, one of the most important monuments of its kind in Europe from the second half of the nineteenth century.
Prince Charles, elected prince of Romania in 1866, first visited the region of Sinaia in August of that year, and remained enchanted by the beauty of the region. At that time, Sinaia was a small mountain village called Neagului Bridge. The prince decides to build a castle in a secluded and picturesque area in the region named Piatra Arsa. A few years later, in 1872, he buys the land measuring aproximately 1000 acres, and work on the castle begins in 1873, under the leadership of architects Johannes Schultz, Carol Benesch and Karel Liman.
The 300 workers who worked here had two years to complete arrangements; all the while, under the presonal supervision of Prince Charles I.
In 1883, the official inauguration of Peles took place, which the prince saw as the new center of the new dynasty.
Peles Castle then became of growing importance, becoming the summer residence of the Romanian royal family, who spent considerable time here, usually from May to November.
The castle was host to many personalities of the time, including writers, musicians, kings and queens. The most important visit was that of the Austro-Hungarian emperor Franz Joseph in 1896. He took a lot of photos on that occasion, after having been impressed by the beauty and richness of the castle.