Our first stop was at Peles Castle which is nestled at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains in the picturesque town of Sinaia and is a masterpiece of Neo-Renaissance architecture,considered one of the most stunning castles in Europe. It was commissioned by King Carol 1 in 1873 and completed ten years later, serving as the summer residence for the royal family until 1947. Its 160 rooms are adorned with the finest examples of European art, Murano crystal chandeliers and German stained glass windows. It was the first European castle entirely lit by electrical current, produced by its own plant. The treasures and rooms in the castle were definitely worth the trip to see them.
Brasov was established in 1211by the Teutonic Knights sent from Hungary and it quickly became an important commercial centre. The old town has retained its beautiful architectural heritage and buildings dating from the 1400s are well preserved today. The city square in the middle of old town is the heart of the city and has a very vibrant cell to it. The square is dominated by the black church, thus named due to the gigantic fire that destroyed part of the city in 1689 and blackened its walls. After a tour of old town and spending some time wandering we went to our hotel which was ultra modern and a sharp contrast to the rest of the day.
This morning we paid a visit to the Bran Castle which is associated with Dracula. Perched atop a 200 foot high rock it gives an aura of mystery and legend. The castle was constructed towards the end of the 14th century to control the trade route to Transylvania. The spooky looking stronghold has been dubbed Dracula’s Castle although there is no evidence to show that Prince Vlad Tepes, the figure behind the vampire myth ever passed through its walls. Bram Stoker who created Dracula never visited Transylvania, he relied on his research and vivid imagination to creat his stories. The castle from the outside is imposing situated up on the rock but the inside tour was like being a sardine in a can.it was totally unorganized and way too many people. Would recommend passing on this one.
As I write this we our headed back to Bucharest to board the Amacerto and we are looking forward to more adventures.
Approaching Peles Castle
The stage of the theatre inside the castle
Incredible woodwork
Beautifully carved statues of royalty
The library was stunning and holds a very valuable collection of books
The kings drawing room
The murano glass chandelier throughout the castle were incredible
This was the smoking room where opium was often the drug of choice
The royal dining room
Glass flowers on the hall mirrors
I felt that this fellow was actually looking at me
Peles Castle from the front
Entrance to the old town of Brasov
Canada was hardly thought of when these buildings were built
Old town square
Every building was a picture
Selling flowers on a stairway
Cater to the taste buds
This looked to me like a scene from Harry Potter
Climbing the hill to Bram Castle
Turret of the castle. Beautiful hills in the background
Fireplace with cozy sitting
Steep narrow staircases all through the castle
Looking up the rock face
Sitting high
A final farewell to “Dracula’s Castle “
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