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Carving
Solomon's Rocks
Graft Bastion, Brasov
Peles CastleFull of history...
PELES CASTLE-Located in Sinaia(44 km from Brasov),is considered by many one of the most beautiful castles in all Europe.It was the final resting place for several Romanian monarchs including King Carol I,who died here in1914.The building of the castle began in1873(Viennese architect Wilhem Doderer).Several other buildings,annexed to the castle is:Guard's Chambers,Economat Building,Foisor Hunting House,Royal Stables,and Electrical Power Plant.Karel Liman would later supervise the building of Pelisor('89-1903,the future residence of King Ferdinand and Queen Mary of Romania).The castle was built in wood,stone,bricks and marble and comprises more than160 rooms.The representative style used is German Renaissance,but can discover elements belonging to the Italian Renaissance,Gothic,German Baroque and French Rococo style.Peles is surrounded by seven terraces decorated with statues(sculptured by the Italian,Romanelli),stone-made-wells,ornamental vases and Carara marble.The architects used an abundance of wooden decoration,both for the exterior and for the interior of the castle,which confers a special quality to the building.Quite outstanding are the Big Armory Room,the small Armory Room,Florentine Room,Reception Room,Moresque Room,French Room,Turkish Room,Council Room,Concert Room as well as the Imperial Suite.Other exquisite attractions such as the statues,ceramics,gold and silver plates,the Meissen and Sevres porcelain,Murano crystal chandeliers,German stained-glass windows,walls covered with Cordoba leather,ebony and ivory sculptures,as well as the extensive weapon collections are worth mentioning.Peles Castle shelters one of the most important and most valuable painting collections in Europe,almost 2.000 pieces.Almost adjacent to Peles Castle is Pelisor("Little Peles").with 70 rooms feature a unique collection of turn-of-the century Viennese furniture and Tiffany,Lalique glassware.Near Peles castle is Foisor,a kings' residence with 42 rooms designed in the Swiss style. DRACULA'S CASTLE
Situated between Bucegi and Piatra Craiului Mountains, right where you enter Rucar-Bran
The first documentary attestation of Bran Castle is the letter written in 1377 by the Hungarian Ludovic I D'Anjou
At the end of the 14th century, king Sigismund gave up the leadership of Bran Fortress in favor of Mircea cel Batran.
The Fortress had an essential role in protecting the Hungarian king from the Ottomans and Tartars' invasion, coming from Wallachia through Rucar Pass. That's the reason why the inhabitants of Brasov built the Castle on their own work and expenses.
Iancu de Hunedoara fortified Transylvania's borders and also the towers of the Bran Castle. He made sure the rights of the peasants were respected by the boyars who ruled the fortress. However, there were frequent fights between merchants and boyars.
In 1498 the fortress passed under the merchant's possession and it was used mainly for treading. You should also know that it was a time when in charge of the leadership was a judge called "Judele Brasovului". Responsible for the defense of the castle was the permanent garrison: 2 guards and 10 - 20 archers and ballisters.
The boyars. had the right to collect fees from visitors and peasants. The fortress had an extra income from: selling cheese, milk and muttons and from manufacturing wood. The peasants fought against the aristocracy for several times. In 1514 they refused to take action against Gheorghe Doja.
In the 18th century the fortress was the house of the Austrians frontier guards. In 1836 Bran became the official border and the defense role of the fortress was no longer a priority. In 1920, the Brasov Town council donated Bran Castle to Queen Maria of Great Romania, who lived there with the royal family till 1947. Since 1947 the Castle is opened as a museum.
