Peles Castle: The Royal Estate of Sinaia

In this installment of ‘Larger Than Life: Architecture Through the Ages,’ we visit a multicultural, neo-Renaissance palace in Romania.

With the appearance of a Swiss chalet and decorated in the German Fachwerk style (half-timbered), the two-story neo-Renaissance palace was a perfect match for its dense forest setting. Peles Castle, with its white walls, tall spire, and wooden beams, is separated from the dense forest by classical landscaped gardens and terraces. Jasmine_K/Shutterstock

Perched near the southern edge of the Carpathian Mountains, Peles Castle in Sinaia, Romania, exemplifies the best of Romania’s architectural heritage. Originally the country residence of King Carol I, the castle’s construction (1873–1883) coincided with the nation’s founding.

For centuries, the lands inhabited by ethnic Romanians were divided between the Austrian, Ottoman, and Russian empires. In 1862, the semi-independent territories of Moldavia and Wallachia unified as Romania and gained independence 12 years later.