Peleş Castle 4
Castelul Peleş
An extravagant palace built by King Carol I to serve as
his summer residence, Peleş Castle is among the most
impressive palaces in Europe. Built between 1873 and
1883 and redesigned in 1914, the castle stands in a vast
forested park tucked away among the low hills of the
Carpathian countryside. The German Neo-Renaissance
façade recalls a fairy tale castle with its sharp Gothic profile
and decorative woodwork. The interior design of its 170
rooms was overseen by King Carol I's wife Elisabeth and
features lavish furnishings, ornate wood carvings and
numerous artworks. One of the last royal palaces to have
been built in Europe, it was the first to be supplied with
electricity, central heating and a lift.
582 SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp596–7 and pp598–9
STAR FEATURES. Florentine Hall
. Theatre Room
. Hall of Honour
The walls of the French
Passage are adorned with two
valuable early 20th-century
tapestries featu ring Cleopatra
and Marc Antony.
The Renaissance-style
dining room contains
an exquisite set of
silverware and
Rosenthal crockery.
Its stained-glass
windows are
framed by
intricately carved
columns of walnut
and ash.. Florentine Hall
The bright Murano glass chandeliers and Palanazzo
marble fire place provide a wonderful contrast to the
dark ebony wall cabinets. Venetian mirrors reflect the
ceiling paint ings, which are reproductions of works by
the Flemish artists van Eyck and Rubens.
Statue of
King Carol I
A towering statue
of King Carol I, by
Italian sculptor Raffaello
Romanelli, overlooks
the park.