# Peleș Castle

- **Country:** Romania
- **Coordinates:** 45.359840, 25.542650
- **Location Text:** Sinaia

Peleș Castle is a magnificent Neo-Renaissance palace located in the Royal Domain of Sinaia within the Carpathian Mountains of Romania. Situated northwest of the town of Sinaia, roughly 124 kilometers from Bucharest, the estate sits on a historic medieval route connecting Transylvania and Wallachia. Construction of this royal retreat began in 1873 under the commission of King Carol I of Romania, who fell in love with the site's majestic scenery during an earlier visit. Although the castle was officially inaugurated in 1883, major improvements and expansions continued until 1914. The project was led by German architect Johannes Schultz, with significant contributions from Carol Benesch and Karel Liman, resulting in a unique structure that blends Italian elegance with German aesthetics.

Historically, Peleș Castle holds the distinction of being the first castle in the world to be fully powered by locally produced electricity, featuring its own power plant built alongside auxiliary structures like royal stables and hunting lodges. King Carol I rejected several initial designs for being unoriginal copies of Western European palaces, insisting instead on a grand, alpine design that reflected his personal taste. The construction cost approximately 16 million gold Romanian lei at the time of its opening, a figure equivalent to roughly 120 million US dollars today. The complex also includes nearby monuments such as Pelișor Castle and the Foișor Hunting Lodge, forming a comprehensive royal estate.

Today, Peleș Castle remains a property of the Romanian royal family and stands as a premier example of 19th-century architectural innovation. It serves as a major cultural landmark and museum, attracting visitors with its intricate murals, luxurious interiors, and stunning mountain backdrop. The castle represents a pivotal era in Romanian history, constructed during the reign of the monarch who oversaw the nation's independence. Its preservation allows modern audiences to appreciate the fusion of artistic styles and technological advancements that defined the royal summer residence over a century ago.

![Photo of Peleș Castle](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/01_Chateau_Peles.jpg)

**Source:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peleș_Castle (Wikipedia, CC BY-SA)