Castelul Peleș

The first castle in Europe with its own electric light

At a time when the great palaces of the continent were still lit by candles and gas lamps, the light bulb was already glowing at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains. Peleș Castle in Sinaia is considered the first castle in Europe to be powered entirely by electricity, produced right on site in its own power station driven by the waters of the Peleș River. This was not the only marvel hidden within its walls: the royal residence had central heating, an elevator and even a dust-extraction system, at a time when almost no one had heard of such things.

King Carol I's dream

The castle was conceived by the first king of Romania, Carol I, as the royal family's summer residence. The foundation stone was laid in 1875, and the official inauguration took place in 1883. The works continued for decades, however, and the castle was considered truly finished only in 1914, the year of the king's death. Several architects laboured to build it, among them Wilhelm von Doderer, Johannes Schultz and Karel Liman, who gave the building the form we see today.

What you'll see inside

Peleș has about 160 rooms, and its central tower rises to around 66 metres. The dominant style is German Neo-Renaissance, with fretwork timber façades and decorations reminiscent of Alpine houses. Inside, every hall has its own personality: studies, salons inspired by Florentine or Moorish styles, an impressive armoury with thousands of pieces from the 15th to the 19th century, and a theatre hall. Here, in 1912, the film „Independența României" was screened, one of the first Romanian feature-length films.

Pelișor and the surrounding forest

Peleș does not stand alone. Right nearby lies Pelișor, a smaller and more intimate castle built for the future King Ferdinand and Queen Marie, as well as Foișor, a former hunting lodge. All are set in a mountain landscape of conifers on the edge of Sinaia, which makes the visit just as beautiful from the outside as from within.

Good to know before your visit

Peleș is located in Sinaia, in the Prahova Valley, easy to reach from Râșnov via Brașov, by car or by train. The interior is visited on guided tours, and access may be restricted on certain days of the week. Since the schedule and fees change, check the schedule and fees on the official source before your visit.