1873–1883
Built
Neo-Renaissance
Style
160
Rooms
3,200 m²
Area
7
Floors
1883
Electrified since
History & Architecture
The dream of a king who wanted to leave the mountains an eternal mark
In the summer of 1872, King Carol I rode across the Carpathians on horseback, searching for a place to build his summer residence. When he reached the Peleș Valley, at 1073 metres of altitude, he understood that this land would belong to no one else. He bought it. A year later, the first shovels broke the ground.
"We want to show the world that a Romanian castle can be more beautiful than any in Western Europe."
— Carol I, 1875
Construction lasted ten years, from 1873 to 1883, under the guidance of the German architects Johannes Schultz and Karel Liman, later continued by Carel Liman. The chosen style — German Neo-Renaissance with Gothic and Baroque influences — reflected the European identity of the king, born a Prince of Hohenzollern.
The castle was the first in the world to be fully equipped with electricity — an installation designed personally by Werner von Siemens at Carol's request. Running hot water, hydraulic lifts, ventilation systems and an internal telephone completed this 19th-century engineering masterpiece.
The building comprises 160 rooms on 7 floors, each conceived as an independent work of art. The Arms Hall, the Moorish Hall, the Royal Library, the Florentine Hall — each recreating a different era, a different continent, a different civilisation. The furniture, tapestries, stained glass and sculptures were brought from Vienna, Paris, Venice and Damascus.
The castle's Hall of Honour had a unique feature in Europe: the ceiling could retract completely, transforming the hall into an atrium open to the Carpathian sky.
Carol I died at Sinaia in 1914, on the very day Austria-Hungary declared war on Serbia. The castle remained the royal residence until 1947, when King Michael was forced to abdicate. The communists turned it into a museum, accidentally saving its architectural legacy from demolition.
Principal Architect
Johannes Schultz
Prague, 1831–1882 · Initial phase 1873–1882
Continuator
Karel Liman
Vienna, 1855–1928 · Final phase 1883–1914
Visual Gallery
Interiors, terraces and royal gardens
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Opening Hours
Opening hours
Ticket prices
How to get there
By train
Sinaia Station → 20 min walk through Dimitrie Ghica Park
By car
DN1 Bucharest–Brașov, Sinaia exit · Parking 400 m away
By cable car
Cable line from the town centre to the foot of the castle
Visitor Reviews
What visitors say
🇷🇴 Elena M.
March 2025
An unforgettable experience. The Hall of Honour with its retractable ceiling left me speechless. The guide knew how to weave history with storytelling — I left with far more than I expected.
🇩🇪 Thomas K.
February 2025
Absolutely stunning. The architecture is incredibly detailed — you can spend hours just looking at the woodwork and stained glass. One of the most beautiful castles in Europe, no question.
🇫🇷 Marie-Claire D.
January 2025
Magnificent château, well preserved. The interior is a fascinating blend of styles — Renaissance, Baroque, Neo-Gothic. The view from the terraces over the Carpathians is unforgettable.
🇷🇴 Andrei P.
December 2024
I have visited Peleș three times and each time I discover something new. 160 rooms, each with its own story. The first fully electrified castle in the world — a masterpiece of engineering and architecture.
Location
Aleea Peleșului 2, Sinaia
45.3601° N, 25.5430° E · Prahova County
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