Visiting a few of the most beautiful castles in Romania is a brilliant way for getting the most from an epic one-week vacation in this country: history, wild nature and escape from the city noise.
We have reviewed some of the most amazing castles in Romania and have described below a list of three that can offer all of the experiences above.
Here are 3 of the most beautiful castles in Romania:
1. Peleș Castle



We start with Peleș Castle, as it is the newest among all 3 castles described here, and having the most luxurious and best preserved decorations. It is the main piece of attraction as part of a royal estate and residence complex that first belonged to king Carol I of Romania. Actually, the castle was built as result of the king’s order, and from his personal budget. Yes, you got that right, the man paid from his own money, although he was the ruler of the country and could have ordered the building to be financed from the state’s budget.
According to some sources, king Carol I was traveling in the summer of 1866 and spent the night at the monastery of Podul Neagului. That is how the nearby locality, currently known as Sinaia, was named at that time. The king liked the domain so much, that he decided he would very much like to build a castle there.
The building process of the castle started much later, in year 1873, and it was finalized approximately 31 years later, during 1914. The castle served as residence during summer period for the royal family until 1948, when it was abusively taken over by the communist regime that established in Romania during 1947.
Interesting things about Peleș castle:
- It has 160 rooms, as well as a theater hall of 60 seats, and it covers a surface of 3,200 square meters
- It was the Europe’s first fully electrified castle, having its own power plant producing electricity – isn’t that cool? 🙂
- Most important figure visiting the castle was the emperor of Austria-Hungary of that time, Franz Joseph, in 1896.
Please make sure you take the entire tour of the castle, as more interesting things will be explained to you by the guide.
Location
The castle is situated in Sinaia, one of the most visited and most beautiful mountain resorts in the Romanian southern Carpathian Mountains, in the region of Bucegi mountains. An interesting detail is that Sinaia was named after the old monastery nearby (Sinaia monastery – also a very interesting place worth visiting during your travel) which was built in 1695. The monastery was named after the biblical Mount Sinai.
Distance from main closest cities:
- Bucharest: approximately 120 km
- Ploiești: approximately 65 km
- Brașov: approximately 48 km
Accommodation:
Sinaia is not lacking accommodation, actually it is thriving with any types of hotels, hostels or villas where you can lodge. You can find from basic 3 stars hotels or villas, to 5 stars highly luxurious ones. It all depends on your budget and how much comfort you would like to benefit of. If you don’t find the accommodation you want in Sinaia, as sometimes it can be fully booked, especially during weekends, you can also try in nearby resorts, such as: Bușteni, Azuga, or Predeal.
2. Bran Castle



Bran Castle is located less than 30 km from Brașov, on the road that connects Braşov with Câmpulung, and it was built on a high cliff, at a key strategic point for its time. Known also as Dracula’s castle, Bran castle was built on an old fortress site belonging to Teutonic Knights (a catholic religious order) and dating from 1212.
The castle was first officially documented in 1377, in a letter issued by King Louis I of Anjou, granting the Saxons living in Brașov (Kronstadt) full rights to build the fortress. Then, it is said that the local merchant Saxons started building it between 1377 and 1382. In 1388 the construction of the castle was dully acknowledged in documents of that time.
The castle is situated in Bran-Moeciu touristic region, one of the most popular touristic areas in Brasov County. Bran-Moeciu is a great place to spend a week-end or vacation.
Interesting things about Bran castle:
- It is believed that Bran castle had significant links to the Romanian medieval king, Vlad Țepeș (or Vlad the Impaler), who was an inspiration for Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, “Dracula”. Actually, the truth is that he had no links to Bran Castle, apart that he may have slept one night in the castle;
- it has approximately 60 rooms that can be visited, a secret staircase and a “time tunnel”;
- The castle is owned by the descendants of Queen Marie of Romania, to whom it was given 1920 by the city council of Brașov as an appreciation for her efforts to unify Romania.
Please make sure you take the entire tour of the castle, as more interesting things will be explained to you by the guide.
Distance from main closest cities:
- Bucharest: approximately 180 km
- Ploiești: approximately 115 km
- Brașov: approximately 30 km (you can do a one-day trip to the castle if you stay in Brașov) – see Google map for safest and shortest route from Brașov.
Accommodation:
Bran and Moeciu are the localities where you can find closest accommodation facilities to the castle. Most of the facilities are private villas or guest houses. But you can find also a few hotels, with very good hosting conditions. Please make sure to reserve in advance, as the area is highly visited by tourists.
3. Corvin Castle (also known as Hunyadi Castle)



Another one among the most beautiful castles in Romania is Corvin Castle, or Hunyadi Castle, as it is also known. It is a Gothic-Renaissance castle, situated in Hunedoara, an important city of Transylvania region. The castle is one of the most visited sites by tourists, attracted by its medieval scenery and artistic events that are hosted by it.
Construction of the Corvin castle started in the medieval year 1446, at the order of John Hunyadi, Voivode of Transylvania. The site was formerly given as present to his father, Voyk (Voicu). It is built over the site of an older fortification, on top of a rock above the small river Zlaști. It has tall and imposing towers, some of which were used as prisons. One of the towers (Buzdugan tower) was used only for defensive purposes and had its outside painted with geometric figures.
Interesting things about Corvin castle:
- It is told that Vlad the Impaler (Vlad Țepeș), the medieval king known as “Dracula” was held prisoner in this castle by John Hunyadi;
- In some places, the walls of the castle are 2 meters deep, and were built from dolomitic limestone blocks and river stone;
- In the castle’s inner yard was dug a well of 30 meters deep. It is said the fountain was dug by some Turkish prisoners held in one of the towers; they were promised freedom if they could find water. Although they succeeded after 15 years, it is said they were never released.
Please make sure you take the full tour of the castle, as even more interesting things will be explained to you by the guide. You will see why it is rated as one of the most beautiful castles in Romania, and even among the most beautiful in Europe.
Distances from main closest cities:
- Hunedoara: castle is 5 km away from Hunedoara city center
- Deva: approximately 17 km (you can also lodge in Deva, and do a one-day trip to the castle)
- Sibiu: approximately 130 km
Accommodation:
Closest tourist facilities are in the city of Hunedoara and city of Deva (Deva is approximately 17 km far from the Corvin castle).