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.
Why Romania’s castles continue to attract international visitors
Over the past few years, Romania has become an increasingly popular destination for travelers looking for authentic cultural experiences, spectacular mountain scenery and fascinating history. From royal residences and medieval fortresses to UNESCO heritage sites and charming old towns, the country offers a unique mix of attractions that remain less crowded than many Western European destinations.
For expatriates living in Romania and visitors discovering the country for the first time, exploring some of its most famous castles is one of the best ways to understand the country’s rich heritage while enjoying some of its most beautiful natural landscapes.
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.
A masterpiece of European architecture
Beyond its fascinating royal history, Peleș Castle is widely regarded as one of Europe’s most beautiful royal residences. Its architecture combines elements of German Neo-Renaissance style with Italian, Austrian and Baroque influences, creating an elegant and distinctive appearance unlike any other castle in Romania.
The interior is equally impressive. Visitors can admire richly decorated halls inspired by different European cultures, including the Florentine Room, the Moorish Hall, the Hall of Honour and one of the largest collections of medieval weapons and armor in Eastern Europe.
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.
- The castle houses more than 4,000 pieces of European and Oriental weaponry, many dating from the 14th to 17th centuries
- Peleș Castle was among the most technologically advanced royal residences of its era, featuring central heating, electricity and even a vacuum cleaning system
- The castle remains one of Romania’s most photographed landmarks and attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year
Please make sure you take the entire tour of the castle, as more interesting things will be explained to you by the guide.
Don’t miss Pelișor Castle
Many visitors are surprised to discover that Peleș is only part of a larger royal estate. Located just a short walk away, Pelișor Castle served as the residence of King Ferdinand and Queen Maria.
Although smaller than Peleș, Pelișor has its own unique charm and offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the life of Romania’s royal family. Queen Maria personally influenced many of its interior designs, making it one of the most distinctive royal residences in the country.
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:
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.
What else to see in Sinaia
If you decide to spend more than one day in Sinaia, there are several attractions worth adding to your itinerary:
- Sinaia Monastery – the historic religious complex that gave the town its name
- Dimitrie Ghica Park – a pleasant green area located in the center of the resort
- Bucegi Mountains – ideal for hiking and mountain adventures
- Cota 1400 and Cota 2000 – easily accessible by cable car and offering spectacular panoramic views
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.
The truth behind the Dracula legend
For many international tourists, Bran Castle is best known as “Dracula’s Castle”. While the connection between the castle and Vlad the Impaler remains limited from a historical perspective, the similarities between Bran’s dramatic appearance and Bram Stoker’s fictional description of Dracula’s residence helped transform it into a global attraction.
Today, visitors come not only for the vampire legends but also for the castle’s authentic medieval atmosphere, remarkable architecture and breathtaking mountain surroundings.
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:
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:
Accommodation:
Closest tourist facilities are in the city of Hunedoara and city of Deva (Deva is approximately 17 km far from the Corvin castle).