Romania's numerous castles perhaps best
illustrate the country's medieval heritage. Many castles
and fortresses in Romania feature unique architectural
elements and styles that reflect local traditions,
customs and purpose. While castles built from 14th
until 18th Centuries are strong and austere fortresses
built mainly for defense against invaders, those erected
beginning late 1800s are imposing and luxurious.
Universal literature found valuable sources of inspiration
in some of Romania's castles, with the most famous
novels written about them being "The Castle from the
Carpathians" by Jules Verne and "Dracula" by Bram
Stoker.
Romania's best
known castles are:
Peles Castle
Considered by many one of the most beautiful castles
in all Europe, Peles Castle is a masterpiece of German
new-Renaissance architecture. Commissioned by King
Carol I in 1873 and completed in 1883 Peles' interiors
are an opulent display of elegant design and historical
artifact. Its 160 rooms are adorned with finest examples
of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers, German
stained-glass windows, walls covered with Cordoba
leather, Meissen and Sevres porcelains, ebony and
wood sculptures.
The town of Sinaia (elevation: 2,500 ft.), home to
the Peles and Pelisor castles, is nestled at the foot
of Bucegi Mountains, in the Prahova Valley.
Almost adjacent to Peles Castle is Pelisor ("Little
Peles"). King Ferdinand, who succeeded Carol 1st,
intended to use Peles Castle as a summer residence.
Supposedly he found Peles too big and overwhelming,
so he commissioned the smaller, art-nouveau style,
Pelisor Castle. Pelisor's 70 rooms feature an unique
collection of turn-of-the century Viennese furniture
and Tiffany and Lalique glassware. Peles and Pelisor
are located 3 miles northeast of the center of Sinaia.
Open: Wednesday through Sunday, from 10:00
AM to 4:00 PM. Access to Sinaia: road and rail. Nearby attractions: the city of Brasov (30
miles), Bran (Dracula's) Castle (35 miles), Rasnov
Fortress (28 miles), the ski resorts in Predeal (14
miles) and Poiana Brasov (35 miles), Bucharest (78
miles), Sighisoara (88 miles), Sibiu (105 miles).
Bran Castle
This fortified medieval castle, often referred to
as Dracula's Castle, was built in 1377 to protect
nearby Brasov from invaders. It also served as a customs
station.
The castle's rooms and towers surround an inner courtyard.
Some rooms are connected through underground passages
to the inner court. In 1920, the people of Brasov
who owned the castle offered it as a gift to Queen
Mary of Romania, and the castle soon became her favorite
residence.
Bran is home to a rich collection of Romanian and
foreign furniture and art items from the 14th-19th
Centuries. The castle sits high atop a 200 ft. tall
rock overlooking the picturesque village of Bran.
On the grounds below there is an open-air ethnographic
museum of old village buildings with exhibits of furniture,
household objects and costumes.
Bran Castle in located in the village of Bran, 16
miles southwest of Brasov. Open: Tuesday through
Sunday, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Access to Bran: road.
Nearby attractions include: the city of Brasov
(16 miles), Peles Castle (35 miles), Rasnov Fortress
(7 miles), ski resorts in Predeal (15 miles) and Poiana
Brasov (10 miles), Bucharest (110 miles), Sighisoara
(88 miles), Sibiu (96 miles).
Corvinesti Castle
The greatest Gothic style castle in Romania, Corvinesti
was built in the 14th Century on the site of a former
Roman camp. It served as a fortress until mid 1400s
when it became the residence of Transylvania's ruler,
Iancu de Hunedoara. Iancu upgraded the fortress and
it soon it became the most beautiful castle in Transylvania.
Highlights include the sightseeing Gallery, the Maces'
Tower, the Knights' Hall, the Council Hall and the
Chapel. The courtyard features a 100 ft. deep well
dug into stone.
Corvinesti Castle is located near the city of Hunedoara,
9 miles south of Deva. Open: daily from 9:00
AM to 5:00 PM. Access to Hunedoara: road and
rail. Nearby attractions include: Sibiu (69
miles), Timisoara (90 miles), Cluj (108 miles), Retezat
Natural Reserve (65 miles).
The Royal Palace, Bucharest
Former official royal residence. Neoclassic style,
built 1927-37. The Royal Palace is today home to Romania's
National Museum of Art. Highlights include works by
Romanian and foreign artists as Constantin Brancusi,
Theodor Aman, Nicolae Grigorescu, Ioan Andreescu,
Stefan Luchian, Rembrandt, Rubens, El Greco, Messina,
Titian, Tintoretto, Velasquez, and others. Open: Wednesday through Sunday, from 10:00
AM to 6:00 PM.
Cotroceni Palace, Bucharest
Romania's President residence. Style: German neo-Renaissance,
built 1893 1895. Designed by the French architect,
Paul Gottereau and renovated by the Romanian architect,
Grigore Cerchez. Cotroceni Palace features a rich
collection of medieval art. Visited by appointment only.
The Palace of Parliament,
Bucharest
The world's second largest building after the U.S.
Pentagon. Commissioned by Romania's last communist
leader, Nicolae Ceausescu this magnificent, yet controversial,
building of 6,000 rooms reflects the skill of Romania's
best architects and craftsmen. Nicolae Ceausescu personally
oversaw the work of more than 400 architects and 20,000
workers who used exclusively Romanian made materials,
accessories and decorations as marble, cherry and
walnut paneling, crystal chandeliers, hand-woven tapestries,
carpets and draperies. Construction begun in 1984
and ended in 1989. However, finishing work continued
after 1989. Open: daily, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Sutu Palace, Bucharest
Former residence of Romania's Foreign Affairs Minister
(Secretary of State), Costache Sutu. Style: Neo-Gothic
with Art Nouveau additions, built in 1833. The Russian
writer Tolstoi lived in the palace during the Crimean
War. The palace now houses a museum with archaeological
finds, engravings, photos, furniture, costumes coins
and art. Open: Tuesday through Sunday, from 9:00 AM
to 5:00 PM
Cantacuzino Palace, Bucharest
Former residence of Grigore Cantacuzino, considered,
at the beginning of 1900s, the richest man in Romania.
Style: French Baroque with Rococo elements, built
1900. The palace is now home of the Museum of the
Romanian Music and headquarted of Romania's Association
of Musicians. Open: Tuesday through Sunday, from 10:00 AM
to 5:00 PM.
Mogosoaia Palace, Mogosoaia
9 miles from Bucharest. Built in 1698, by Wallachia's
ruler, Cosntantin Brancoveanu, the palace reflects
a new architectural style ("Brancovenesc") featuring
Romanian traditional staircase balconies, arcades
and columns. The palace is today home to "Muzeul Brancovenesc"
(Brancovenesc Museum). Exhibits include paintings,
wood and stone sculptures, gold and silver embroideries,
rare books, precious miniatures. Open: daily, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Brukenthal Palace, Sibiu
Transylvania's finest art museum, Bruckenthal Palace
was commissioned by the German governor of Transylvania,
Samuel Bruckenthal, during late 1700s. Its sober exterior
bears little resemblance to its rich interior and
extensive art. Style: great example of late Baroque
Viennese architecture, built 1778-1788.
The great art lover and collector Samuel Bruckenthal
wished his palace to become a museum. The art collections
include paintings by Rubens, Van Dyck, Frans Snyders,
Jordaens and Teniers as well as works of German, Austrian
and Romanian masters. The museum also features a valuable
silverware collection bearing the signature of the
great 16th century master Sebastian Hann, a collection
of old pictures of Sibiu, glass painted icons, a rare
collection of butterflies and about 350 incunabula
and rare books. Open: Tuesday through Sunday, from 10:00 Am
to 3:00 PM.
Baroque Palace, Oradea
A small replica of the Belvedere Palace in Vienna.
Style: Baroque, built 1762-1770. Baroque Palace's
117 rooms, decorated with frescoes are home to Museum
of Oradea area ("Muzeul Tarii Crisurilor") which include
art section, library, ethnography section and natural
history section. The palace has 365 windows, one for
each day of the year. Open: Tuesday through Sunday, from 10:00 AM
to 3:00 PM.
Banffy Palace, Cluj
Style: late Baroque with Rococo Viennese elements,
built 1774-1785. Home to Cluj Art Museum, Banffy Palace's
rooms feature exhibits of icons, Persian carpets,
Oriental weapons, medieval tools and furniture as
well as works by Romanian and foreign painters and
sculptors. Open: Wednesday through Sunday, from 10:00AM
to 5:00 PM.
Dinu Mihail Palace, Craiova
Style: neo-classic, built 1900s. The palace is home
to Craiova Museum of Art. Highlights include sculptures
by native son, Constantin Brancusi, as well as paintings,
original Venetian mirrors, Murano chandeliers, Lyon
silk wall hangings. Open: Tuesday through Sunday, from 10:00 Am
to 4:00 PM.
Palace of Culture, Iasi
A neo-Gothic style palace, built in stages from 1905
until 1925, is home to Iasi Museum of Art, Museum
of History, Museum of Ethnography, Polytechnic Museum
and Public Library. Open: Tuesday through Sunday, from 9:00 AM
to 5:00 PM.
Other castles and fortresses worth visiting include:
Vlad Tepes' Poenari Fortress near Aref Ruginoasa Palace in Ruginoasa Suceava Citadel
Neamt Citadel
Princely Court in Targoviste
