Palaces of Romania. The most famous castles in Romania. Peles – a fairytale castle made of sweets

Romania is located on Balkan Peninsula, western coast of the Black Sea. Its popularity in terms of tourism has grown due to its accession to the European Union; holidays in it are budget-friendly compared to such European countries as Austria, Germany, etc. But this does not mean at all that it is inferior to them in beauty and historical and cultural richness.

Romania has amazing beauty, combining three components: nature, modern and medieval architecture. If you are planning a trip to this country in the near future, be sure to pay attention to Romanian castles.

Castles of Romania: top 5

Firstly, it is, of course, famous. A fortress built in 1388 by peasants at their own expense, which freed them from taxes for several centuries. And the castle would have stood still, but thanks to B. Stoker and his novel about Dracula, it gained fame. Although, in fact, there is no evidence, only a passing mention that V. Tepes (aka Dracula) stopped here during long hikes.

Now it is visited annually by thousands of tourists, and the whole atmosphere is summed up by the mentioned character, although there are several interesting museums in the territory. The architecture is truly monumental and the whitewashed walls and tiled roof are visible for many kilometers.

In Sinai, its construction was carried out from 1873 to 1914, it was originally planned as a summer residence for King Charles I. It is recognizable by the decorative finish with dark red details and two tall towers. It was built with all the modern conveniences, the first European castle with electricity and central heating.

– one of the oldest, built in the mid-15th century. Situated on a mountain in a very picturesque place, and next to it is a river, across which a truly gigantic bridge is thrown to the castle. Such an old building cannot but impress; it seems that the walls of the castle still remember their owners and preserve the atmosphere of the Middle Ages.

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It has stood for more than seven hundred years; it was built for protection from the Turks and Tatars; the outside of the building is surrounded by a wide ditch. For a long time, the fortress was the residence of the Transylvanian princes, and during the communist regime it housed a prison for political prisoners. Now it is a museum-city, perfectly preserved from the outside.

Rounding out the top five Romanian castles is Virgo and Bethlen. The first mention of it dates back to 1269. The castle was erected on a high hill of volcanic origin, near which the town of Deva gradually grew. The castle was almost destroyed in 1849 as a result of the explosion of gunpowder in its arsenals.

Now you can only see its ruins, but even they attract attention. But in the same city there is another castle, and in reality princely palace. It has been preserved and now operates as a hotel consisting of 18 rooms, 4 of which are luxurious suites, its name is the same - Deva.

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Romania is not only Dracula, Ceausescu and gypsies (although they too!), but also stunning architecture and castles - medieval and not so. We have selected three of the most impressive of them, which you should definitely include in your route if you are going to those parts.

Peles Castle

Aleea PeleSului 2, Sinaia

From the outside, Peles resembles German half-timbered houses, and for good reason. The castle was built by order of the first king of Romania, Carol I: a German by origin, he saw similarities in these places with his native land and bought these lands for a summer residence and hunting grounds.

The monarch turned out to be a very strict critic in architectural terms: he rejected the first few projects, which were too similar to existing foreign palaces. In the end, Carol I chose an idea that combined the aesthetics of different styles, including the German neo-Renaissance. Construction of the castle began in 1873. Peles received its name in honor of the mountain river of the same name, on the banks of which it was built. In parallel with the construction of the building, a power station was built on it, so Peles became the first fully electrified castle in the world. Its construction resembled Babylonian pandemonium: several hundred people from more than a dozen states worked here. The castle was officially opened in 1883, but it was finally ready only more than thirty years later - in 1914.

After World War II and the Socialists came to power, Peles was nationalized and turned into a museum. However, towards the end of the reign of Romanian leader Nicolae Ceausescu, access to the public was closed: only museum staff and people from military and government circles could be on the territory. After the Romanian revolution of 1989, the authorities first made the castle a museum again, then returned it to its previous owner, the last king of Romania, Michael I, and then bought it from the royal house for 30 million euros.

Looking from the outside at the elegant castle, more reminiscent of an Alpine mansion, it is difficult to believe that it has about 160 rooms. Tourists are only allowed on the ground and first floors. The tour is like a short trip: there are rooms in Turkish, English, Italian, German, French, Spanish-Moorish and other styles.

Next door is another castle - Pelisor, whose name can be translated as “little Peles” - it has “only” 70 rooms. It was built for Ferdinand I, the nephew of King Carol I.

How to get there: Sinaia can be reached from Brasov (by train - from € 2.3) or Bucharest (by train - from € 4.8).

Prices: tour of the basement and first floors – € 13 or € 3.2 for students; only on the ground floor - € 6.5 or € 1.6 for students.

Bran Castle

Strada General Traian Mosoiu 24, Bran

The 14th-century castle in the town of Bran became famous throughout the world as the domain of the vampire Dracula from the novel by Irishman Bram Stoker. Bram himself had never been to Romania and formed an idea of ​​the country from books and engravings. As a result, Bran turned out to be the only castle in those parts that matched the description of his hero’s estate. “On both sides there was a huge abyss. The castle was built on the edge of a large cliff, so that it was completely impregnable on three sides. To the west was a large valley, and beyond it, in the distance, rose jagged cliffs, one after the other; they were covered with mountain flowers and thorns, the roots of which clung to the cracks and ruins of the stone,” the book says about the vampire’s residence – and it really resembles the fortress at Bran.

However, the historical prototype of Dracula - Prince Vlad III Dracula - never lived in Bran. He ruled Wallachia, a medieval principality in the south of modern Romania, in the 15th century and owned Poenari Castle, the ruins of which remain near the stunningly picturesque Transfagarasan. Dracula waged an irreconcilable struggle against the Turkish conquerors, but was betrayed by his allies and imprisoned. Through the efforts of one of them, the Hungarian king Matthew I Corvinus, the prince went down in history as a bloodthirsty tyrant under the nickname Tepes - “the impalementer,” which inspired Bram Stoker several centuries later. Some historical sources connect the treachery of the Hungarian ruler with the waste of funds allocated by the Pope for the fight against the Ottomans, which he wanted to hush up by accusing Dracula of secret connections with the Turks and blaming him for military failures. It was then that the Prince of Wallachia visited Bran, but not of his own free will: according to the castle staff, Matvey Corvinus kept him captive here for several months.

There is only one exhibition hall dedicated to the famous ruler of Wallachia and his literary incarnation in the fortress. The exhibition is dedicated primarily to the last owners of the castle - Queen Mary, who received it as a gift for her efforts to unify Romania, and her descendants, who own the fortress today. Those who are more interested in the legends of Dracula should check out the fair at the foot of Bran: they sell “vampire” souvenirs for every taste.

How to get there: The most convenient way to get to Bran is from Brasov (bus – € 1.5).

Prices: adult ticket – € 8.6; student – ​​€ 5.4.

Corvin Castle

Strada Castelului 1-3, Hunedoara

Corvin Castle in the industrial town of Hunedoara is the largest gothic castle in Romania. The fortress, the first mention of which dates back to XIV century, received for military merits by the grandfather of the above-mentioned Hungarian king Matthew Corvinus (Hunyadi). His son, Janos, rebuilt the fortification and added seven towers, and Matvey Corvin completed his work.

The Hunyadi family owned the castle until 1508, after which it changed more than twenty owners, each of whom changed something in the architecture of the building. In the mid-19th century, a fire destroyed all wooden structures, including the roofs, which were previously flat. The fortress was restored and reconstructed, and in 1974 it became a museum and opened its doors to visitors.

Situated on the western shore of the Black Sea, on the Balkan Peninsula, Romania has become a more popular tourist destination since joining the European Union, and less commercial than much of Europe. Romania reminds visitors and locals of a storied past that exists in balance between developing cities and villages hiding the ruins of fortresses. The landscape in Transylvania is permeated medieval castles and fortresses, while other regions of the country boast traditional German villages, caves, deserts and restored landmarks. If you're planning a visit to Romania, here are five of the most impressive castles in the country.

The main castle of Romania is undoubtedly Bran, built in 1388 near city ​​of the same name, and was used as a center of trade (due to its proximity to the Transylvanian border), as well as a fortress against expansion Ottoman Empire. Bran is closely associated with the story of Count Dracula, due to the similarities in writer Bram Stoker's descriptions of the castle, as well as its historical connection to Vlad the Impaler.

From 1920 to 1948 the castle was the royal residence of Queen Maria of Romania and her daughter, Princess Ileana. Visitors to the castle can admire the impressive architecture, spanning a stone dungeon, 57 rooms and even a secret passage leading to watchtowers. The four floors function as a museum displaying furniture, armory and other items that belonged to Queen Mary and the Romanian royal family.

Peles Castle

Built between 1873 and 1914 on 1,000 hectares in Sinaia, Peles Castle was originally intended as the summer residence of King Charles I of Romania, the longest-reigning monarch, although he lived here for only six months before passing away and being buried on the castle grounds. German, Viennese and French designers and architects worked on this elegant building, reflecting its varied architectural style - mainly German Renaissance, with elements of Italian Renaissance, Gothic, German Baroque and French Rococo.

Most visitors and locals will recognize the castle by its striking dark red features, turrets and long towers. More detailed features include magnificent marble statues, detailed frescoes and stained glass windows depicting German fairy tales, and intricate wood carvings inside its 160 rooms.

Peles was also the first castle in Europe with central heating and electricity, which was produced by its own equipment.

Corvin is an imposing Romanian Gothic stone castle located on a cliff above the Zlasti River in Transylvania, in the city of Hunedoara. Tall and angular, with pointed towers and parapets along the balconies and windows. The castle is accessible through a very long wooden bridge, supported by stone pillars. Corvin was home to both kings and outlaws, and was also the first residence of János Hunyadi, the leading Hungarian commander in the 15th century. But it soon turned out to be useful for military meetings, and then as a prison.

Inside, visitors can wander around the sparsely furnished fortress, with spiral staircases, knight's halls, towers, guard rooms, dungeons and internal protective rooms.

Medieval castle Fagaras

Hidden behind a ring of trees just off the highway, Fagaras is a simple castle of stone and brick, with a wide moat. This fortress served as the home of the princes of Transylvania, and also briefly acted as a prison for political prisoners during the communist regime.

When planning a trip to Bulgaria this year, we decided to capture a part of Romania along the way, whose castles I had long dreamed of seeing. In particular, our route included that same Dracula’s castle, which I imagined as an extremely dark and unpleasant place. What did we see? What impression does Dracula's castle make and are there other castles in Romania besides it? You will find answers to these questions in the article below.

Let me start with the fact that we set off on our journey through the castles by car from the capital of Romania -. We flew to Bucharest with the low-cost airline WizzAir for just 50 Euros per person. From Russia, the most convenient way to fly to Bucharest is by Aeroflot flight from Moscow; the price of round-trip tickets starts from only 87 Euro. We planned a trip to 2 Romanian castles: Peles Castle and Bran Castle or Dracula's Castle. In addition, in this article I talked a little about the Corvin Castle. All these 3 castles are marked on the map below.

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Peles Castle

Peles Castle is located 128 km from Bucharest near the city of Sinaia. On the way to the castle there are truly stunning views of the southern Carpathians (Transylvanian Alps). The castle is made in the neo-Renaissance style and was built over 30 years: from 1873 to 1914. The castle was built by order of King Carol I. The most interesting thing about the construction of the castle is that it was practically not built by Romanians, the main architects were German and Czech, Italians were masons, Romanians built terraces, Albanians and Greeks processed stone, Turks fired brick.

I liked the combination of half-timbered and gothic elements in it. The castle has more than 170 rooms in which you can see how people of that time lived. The castle houses a rich collection of weapons: more than 4,000 pieces, as well as a collection of oriental carpets, porcelain, paintings and tapestries.

A statue of King I stands in front of the castle. Since 1953, the castle has housed a permanent museum exhibition. During the idiotic rule of the communist Ceausescu, the castle was closed to tourists - it is not clear why. In those days, only servants and military personnel were allowed into the castle grounds. The castle reopened its doors to visitors after the anti-communist revolution of 1989, when Ceausescu himself was shot dead. Nowadays, Peles Castle attracts almost half a million visitors a year.

We did not go inside the castle, because... We’ve already seen enough of different castles in the Czech Republic and Germany, and now it’s very difficult to surprise us with anything. A walk along the picturesque terrace of the castle along with the crowds of tourists was enough for us. It’s surprising that after deserted Bucharest, here you come across such a piece of the center of tourist life: here they sell you souvenirs and organize organized excursions.

The weather that day was not particularly conducive to walking: it was damp and cloudy, the temperature in the mountains did not rise above +11 degrees and it was raining, although it was June outside. The most appropriate place to visit the mysterious Romanian castles.

And from the platform in front of the castle itself good weather you can see the funicular soaring upward. Later we learned that the city of Sinaia is the largest ski resort Romania. There are also luxury hotels, chalet hotels on the mountain slopes and modern ski lifts: everything is like in civilized Europe, which you wouldn’t expect to find in Romania. The height of the mountains around Sinai exceeds 2000 meters. If you decide to go skiing in Sinaia, take a close look at these hotels: Hotel International, Hotel Bastion, Complex La Tunuri - Vila Economat.

On the approach to the castle there is another castle - Pelesor (Castelul Pelişor), which forms one complex with Peles Castle and is very similar to it. The castle is made in art nouveau style.

Dracula's Castle (Castelul Bran)

Then our path lay to Bran Castle, or simply Dracula, to which we had to drive another 48 km. On the way to Dracula's castle, we overcame a long serpentine road: first we climbed the mountain and slowly plunged into the dense white fog, which, like a cloud, enveloped us from all sides. Neatly stacked stacks and small villages floated past.

According to our observations, Romanian villages look much more well-groomed than cities, and this is understandable, because the country’s economy is largely focused on agriculture.

When approaching Dracula's castle, the rain completely dropped. The castle is located on a rock, and in order to get to it, you need to overcome the road up. You can only get into the castle grounds by paying for a ticket, which we were also surprised by: usually entrance to castle grounds in Europe is free, but you only pay if you want to go inside. Cost of visiting the castle and grounds: 7 Euros per person; tickets for children and students are cheaper.

The castle did not make any terrifying impression on me: an ordinary castle standing on a rock. However, the Romanians do not think so; it is beneficial for them to display this castle in mysterious light and sell such far from cheap tickets to it, as well as sell vampire paraphernalia next to the castle.

Dracula's Castle is located on the border of the Transylvania and Wallachia regions. In fact, not only this castle, but also two other Romanian castles were associated with the legend of Dracula: Poenari Castle (Cetatea Poenari) and Corvin Castle (Castelul Corvinilor).

It is interesting that Bram Stoker might not even know about this castle as the refuge of Count Dracula. This castle was chosen as the count's residence based on his descriptions in the book. Bram Stoker never visited Romania. The image of the bloodthirsty Dracula was based on the image of the ruler of Wallachia, Vlad the Impaler, as you probably yourself know. The castle displays the furniture collection of Queen Maria of Romania.

For a fee, you can visit the torture rooms in the castle. The construction of the castle dates back to the end of the 14th century. With its rocky walls, it reminded me a lot of Königstein Castle, which is located not far from Dresden.

We were not particularly impressed with the interior of the rooms. I liked the view of the courtyard with a well and the tiled turrets shrouded in fog.

We also noticed a colorful house at the foot of the castle, the roof of which was completely overgrown with grass.

Corvin Castle (Castelul Corvinilor)

We didn’t go to Corvin Castle, which is considered the most beautiful castle in Transylvania, because... I had to drive another 270 km, but I’ll tell you a little about it. The Corvin Castle and the famous wooden bridge leading to it are often listed in various ratings on the Internet as “the same Dracula castle.” Indeed, it looks ominous and even looking at it on a postcard, you can see Count Dracula’s carriage rushing rapidly across the bridge to the castle.

Photo from https://www.wikipedia.org/

This castle is exactly like Vajdahunyad Castle - one of the. Having rummaged through Wikipedia, I found out that both of these castles were built for the same Hungarian dynasty of kings - Hunyadi. I have never been particularly interested in architecture, but now, having visited many places in Europe, I often compare different places and surprise myself.

Rumor has it that Vlad the Impaler, the prototype of Dracula, was kept in this castle for 7 years after his overthrow.

How to get to Romanian castles?

Below I have attached brief instructions on how to get to the Romanian castles described in the article on public transport. On my own behalf, I would like to add that it would be more convenient to rent a car (from 20 Euro per day), because... in this case it will be possible to go around large quantity castles in one day. Romania has a very well developed train service. You can buy a train ticket at the ticket office at the station or on the Romanian Railway website. If you don’t want to go to the castles on your own, you can book an excursion from Russian companies that organize excursions to the city of Brasov, Sighisoara Fortress, Corvinov Castle and others interesting places Romania.

  • To get to Bran Castle from Bucharest, take the train towards Brasov. Upon arrival in Brasov, take bus number 23, which leaves directly from the railway station and go to bus station number 2 (Autogara 2). From there buses and minibuses depart to Bran Castle.
  • To get to Peles Castle, take the train to Sinaia. From Sinaia railway station to Peles Castle is only 2 km, which can be covered on foot.
  • Corvinov Castle is the furthest to get to: about 8 hours by train from Bucharest. You will need to get to the city of Hunedoara, from where you will have to walk 2 km to the castle.

What other interesting castles can you see in Romania?

Below I give you a list of interesting castles to visit in Romania and the distance to them from Bucharest.

CASTLES OF ROMANIA

Castles are always interesting, beautiful, mysterious... Today's journey through the castles of Romania: we will stop at the 10 most famous castles and fortresses...

1. Bran Castle

This medieval castle is located on the edge of the Carpathian gorge, not far from Brasov. Bran Castle is one of the ten most beautiful castles in the world and is the most valuable monument of art of that era in Romania. History says that it was built local residents, for which they were deprived of paying taxes to the state treasury.

Anyone who has read Bram Stoker's novel, Dracula, remembers the description of the Gloomy and Scary Castle. Imagine, this castle was copied by the writer from life and, moreover, it is one of the most significant attractions of Romania.

2. Corvin Castle

The first mentions of one of the most beautiful and majestic fortifications not only in Romania, but throughout Europe - the Corvin Castle - date back to the 14th century.

The Corvin Castle in Romania has known many owners. Each of them, in accordance with the era, made its own changes, but the fabulous spirit of grandeur and romance from the times of its founding has survived to this day.

3. Peles Castle

A picturesque and slightly wild place in the Carpathians near the Romanian city of Sinaia reminded King Carol I of his native Germany and charmed him with its pristine beauty. A few years later, the monarch bought this plot of land to build his summer residence on it, the name of which was given by a small mountain river flowing nearby - Peles.

The castle is dominated by the features of the German neo-Renaissance: vertical and sharp towers, asymmetry of construction, an abundance of carved wood and full compliance with the surrounding landscape. There are also other styles: Italian Renaissance, German Baroque, Rococo, as well as Spanish and Turkish styles.

4. Deva Castle

The medieval castle of Deva (around which the town of the same name grew) was built on a cone-shaped volcanic hill overlooking the later city quarters. The first written mention of it dates back to 1269

Presumably the name "Virgo" comes from the ancient Dacian word "dava" (fortress). According to another version, the name of the fortress and the city was given by the II Augustan Legion, transferred here from the British city of Deva (now Chester). Further fate The original (Daco-Roman) fortress of Virgo is unknown to science...

5. Pelisor Castle

It was erected in 1903 by order of King I. For many years, this castle, designed by the famous Czech architect Karel Liman, was used as a summer residence for the royal family.

Pelisor is designed in the Art Nouveau style, and Queen Mary, who was distinguished by her excellent taste, took an active part in the design of the castle. Most of the furniture was created according to her design, and several rooms of the castle were equipped.

6. Fagaras Castle

A moat is a deep, wide ditch filled with water that surrounds a castle, building or the whole city. In history, this was one of the main means of protection. In some places, moats evolved into more advanced defense systems, including natural and artificial lakes, dams and canals.

In a later period, the moat around the castle could only be for decoration. Either way, it's quite a sight, and if a building is surrounded by a moat, it means it's important or expensive.

7. Poenari Castle

What remains of it is located in the Transylvanian Alps. It was in this place that the famous Count Dracula once lived and ruled. This was the family estate of Vlad the Impaler

Now there is nothing of the castle except fortress walls and ruins. They make this place mystical. Another terrifying story connects this castle with death. According to legend, the count's wife Elizabeth threw herself into the abyss to avoid falling into the hands of the Turkish invaders.

8. Alba Iulia Fortress

The fortress was built according to the plans of the Italian architect Giovanni Morando Visconti, partially modified in 1731 by the Austrian general Weiss.

The fortress covers an area of ​​70 hectares, and total length its walls are 12 km long. She completely protects old part city ​​with a majestic medieval cathedral.

9. Rasnov Fortress

Along with Bran Castle, the system of fortifications that protected the approaches to Transylvania from the south through the Carpathian passes included Rysnov Castle (German - Rosenau). This is the real one medieval city, where with observation deck there is a stunning view of the city of Rasnov and the mountains.

This impressive fortress was built in 1215-1225. Knights of the Teutonic Order, first mentioned in documents of 1331. The Teutons built a fortress after the first Tatar raids to protect the local inhabitants.

10. Sighisoara Fortress

Homeland of Count Dracula. the city of Sighisoara amazes with its medieval picturesqueness. This fairytale city with a thousand-year history that houses the famous Sighisoara fortress - one of the most beautiful inhabited fortresses in Europe and the most beautiful ensemble of medieval architecture in Romania.

Every year the Sighisoara Fortress hosts a festival of medieval art and for three days a year the fortress becomes a center of sorcerers, magicians and witches

 

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