Peles Castle

 Hello dear readers! Today we will talk about a wonderful monument situated in the center of the country: Peles Castle.

Peles Castle in Sinaia, 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 JD Heymann of Hamburg, August Bembe in Mainz and Bernhard Ludwig in Vienna.

 Peles Castle is one of the most important historic edifices in Romania, with unique character and is, by its historical and artistic value, one of the most important monuments of this kind in Europe second half of the nineteenth century.

Prince Charles, elected prince of Romania in 1866, Sinaia first visit in August of that year and remained impressed by the beauty of these places. At that time, Sinaia was a small mountain village called Bridge denies. Prince decided to build a castle in a secluded and picturesque: Piatra Arsa. A few years later, in 1872, he bought land (1,000 acres), and construction began in 1873, led by architect Johannes Schultz, Carol Bebesech and Karel Liman. First, workers have struggled to master the whimsical elements of nature, such as underground water courses or landslides.

The 300 workers who have worked here have had two years to complete the decorations, all the while, Prince personally oversaw in detail work. In 1875 to lay the cornerstone of the castle, in which are buried dozens of gold coins of 20 lei, first Romanian coin with the image of Charles I.

 In 1883 has officially opened the Peles, which saw Prince as a "seat" of the new dynasty. Prahova Valley and its location was not accidental. Not far away, the tracks, was then Austria-Hungary border with Romania. But in the future, after the union of Transylvania with the Old Kingdom, the castle is found in the heart of the country.

Peles will then gain increasing importance, became the summer residence of the Romanian royal family who spent quite a long time, usually from May to November. You have held important political meetings, such as the Crown Council in 1914 (when he decided Romanian neutrality in World War I, which had just started) and 1925.

 Castle has hosted many personalities of the time, writers, musicians, and kings and queens. The most important visit was that the old emperor of Austria-Hungary, Franz Joseph, in 1896. It took a lot of photos on that occasion, being impressed by the beauty and richness of the castle. In 1906 expect another visit to the king, to celebrate 40 years of the reign of King Charles I. On this occasion was arranged at the apartment imperial castle, but Franz Joseph's visit never took place.

Even after his inauguration in 1883, Peles will be modified, extending the time. Reached its present form only in 1914 (year of death of King Charles I). The castle has 160 rooms and several entrances and staircases. The central tower measured no less than 66 feet tall. Besides Peles itself were raised in the two other smaller buildings, Pelisorul and pavilion.

 Peles has a theater room with a small stage and 60 seats plus royal box. Castle had very modern equipment era it was built. For example, the glass ceiling of the hall of honor is mobile and can be driven by an electric motor. Since 1883, the castle has central heating.

Besides the castle were built Pelisorul, Body Guard, Economatul, Hunting Turret House, Stables, power plants and Villa Sipot. By the end of the castle (1883), King Charles I and Queen Elizabeth, lived at the house hunting, completed before the castle. Because of their power plant, Peles castle was first electrified in Europe.

Peles had a great impact on our country's history. Here was born, in 1893, the future King Charles II (1930-1940), first king of the dynasty and the first earth-born Romanian baptized in the Orthodox faith. In 1921, the Pavilion, was born son, King Mihai I. In 1921, the Peles occurs, the wedding of Princess Ileana, one of his sisters Carol II, attended a lot of personalities of the time, including Nicolae Iorga . Two years later the semi celebrations held Peles Castle (50 years after starting work).

Castle remains the residence of the royal family until 1948, when it was confiscated by the communist regime. In 1953 Peles will become a museum, but said he should be visited, since the time of King Charles I. In 1990, Pelisorul is open for public visits.

 A simple calculation shows that between 1875 and 1914 were spent at Peles over 16 million lei gold.

It is interesting to note that Nicolae Ceausescu rarely visited the castle. A story circulating in the 80s said that Ceausescu and his wife had wanted to establish a residence at Peles protocol.

Knowing that they had ways of ordering all kinds of demolition and change scare curators telling them that inside the castle is a fungus that attacks the elements of wood and is very harmful to humans. In fact, the truth is that a fungus attacked the building beams due to moisture and neaerisirii. For this reason they started the restoration, being replaced structural strength of honor and the dining hall downstairs. Cautious, Ceausescu and his wife have spent only one night at the Castle, sleeping in the gazebo.

Castle was declared a museum in 1953. In the last years of the communist regime between 1975 - 1990, Nicolae Ceausescu ordered the closure to the public domain. The only people allowed in this area were the maintenance, military and security personnel. The whole area has been declared an area of ​​interest protocol.

After the Revolution of 1989, Peles and Pelisorul were reintegrated into the tourist circuit. In 2006, the Romanian government announced the return of former King Michael I castle in Romania. Contrary to rumors, the castle was not Romanian state sold $ 30 million. Restitution was made effective on 20 February 2007. Although privately owned by the royal family, Michael has decided to retain the quality of museum of the castle, leaving the tourist circuit.

A bit long article today, really, but I hope you enjoyed.

God bless you!