There's more to Romania than just Bucharest. Take the journey up north to the Romanian mountains and explore the lands of Transylvania and their magical castles...
(Left) Peles Castle (Right) Bran Castle
Peles Castle:
Nestled at the foothills of the Bucegi Mountains in the picturesque town of Sinaia, Peles Castle is a masterpiece of German Neo-Renaissance architecture. Originally built for King Carol I, this 19th Century castle is one of Romania's most iconic landmarks. King Carol I had in mind to host this castle as more of a guesthouse for his friends; he would arrange to have the Orient Express to bring them here rather than staying in the city of Bucharest.
The interior of Peles Castle, featuring the impressive stained glass sliding ceiling, and library with bookcases connecting to a secret passage
At its time it was the first castle in Europe to have electricity, everything that was considered the best in the world, this place had! The stained glass ceiling slides electrically, it was the first sliding roof in Romania and probably one of the first in the world! Peles Castle is an architectural marvel for its time: the library hosts a secret passage which led to King Carol I's bed chambers. To be honest, this place is more of a palace than a castle!
Monday: closed
Tuesday: closed
Wednesday: 10:00 – 17:00
Thursday – Sunday: 09:15 – 17:00
To see both the Ground Floor and First Floor, an adult ticket will cost 80 LEI cash only, (which is approximately €16 or so), or if you are only interested in seeing the Ground Floor then the tickets are half this price.
They do also say if you want to take photos inside you have to pay extra, but generally you can take photos inside, everyone does it, and they don't really say anything about it.
Tickets are only to be bought at the site, no tickets can be bought online in advance.
For more information on Peles Castle, click the link below:
Peles National Museum – Peles Castle and Pelisor Castle
Bran Castle:
Bran Castle is a Transylvanian fortress near the town of Brașov. The castle is considered a national monument, a landmark in Transylvania, and home to the myth of Dracula himself. From its rock foundation near the riverbed, the imposing silhouette of Bran Castle rises majestically above the valley below.
Bram Stoker, a 19th Century Irish Novelist, created Count Dracula, a sadistic prince condemned to live off the blood of the living people for eternity, and legend has it that Bran Castle was where he resides. To this day Dracula is often confused with the real life Vlad Tepes (Vlad the Impaler), sometimes known as Vlad Dracul. Inspired by the stories and legends of Transylvania, the local population who actually believed in vampires, really believed that the descriptions that Bram Stoker used fit so perfectly to Bran Castle. In actual fact, Bram Stoker had never even been to Romania and only described this castle based on books he had read.
Monday: 12:00 - 16:00
Tuesday - Sunday: 09:00 - 16:00
Entry to the castle will costs 45 Lei (9€) for an adult ticket.
Tickets may be bought online, but you can also buy once you get there. Whether you have a prepaid ticket or not you still have to queue to enter.
For more information on Bran Castle, click the link below:
Interested in visiting? Please feel free to contact me for more information!
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