The Real Fairy Tale Castles of Romania
Romania is a hidden gem destination for international travelers, rich in history and culture. Step into the land of fairy tales at these three breathtaking castles.
Amy Crowder
Nov 25 2024
I grew up in the Tennessee foothills of Southern Appalachia. Just over the mountains into North Carolina are the Biltmore Estates. The mansion and grounds built by the Vanderbilt family bear the moniker of America’s Castle. As our nation never had a monarchy, the grand estates of the ridiculously wealthy are the closest we have to historical castles.
Peleș Castle
Pictures of a carved wood, spiraling staircase in a grand hall had earned Peleș Castle a place at the top of my must-see list on my first trip to Romania. If that one design detail could be so gorgeous, what must the rest of the palace be like? One April weekend, I got to find out.
At the time, I was staying in the city of Brașov, in central Romania. Peleș Castle is located in the town of Sinaia, a short train ride away. That was my first experience taking a train in Romania. Rail has since become my preferred way to travel between cities within the country. Not only is it convenient and affordable, it is also an excellent way to appreciate the scenic beauty of this land. From the Sinaia train station, the castle grounds are accessible in half an hour on foot or, as I learned later, sooner by bus.
Peleș Castle is breathtaking, even from a distance. The architectural style is unique to Romania, incorporating German, Czech, and Renaissance aspects. This multicultural influence has been part of the castle’s story since its inception. Laborers contributing to its construction hailed from more than fourteen nationalities and cultures. The interior of the palace boasts 160 uniquely appointed rooms, many of which are themed on specific cultures ranging from Switzerland to India. Among the first guests to the palace were passengers on the inaugural Orient Express train ride who witnessed King Carol I lay the final ceremonial brick, indicating the construction was complete.
Remarkable for the late 1800’s, Peleș Castle was the first castle in the world to be powered by locally sourced electricity. It served as the summer home for the Romanian royal family, opened its doors to foreign dignitaries throughout the 20th century, and eventually became the museum complex we can now visit today.
My initial visit did not disappoint. The spiraling staircase I had admired in pictures was a side feature in the expanse of intricately carved wooden details in the main hall. Stained glass skylights illuminate the 3-story entry. Fine art objects of canvases, textiles, ceramics, musical instruments, and furnishings adorn every room. Renowned painter Gustav Klimt lent his talents to the decoration of the palace’s Theatre Hall. King Carol I’s Armory includes more than 4,500 items, most impressive of which is the full set of 16th century knight’s armor for horse and rider. The Throne Room itself is practically dripping with gold from floor to ceiling. Walking through it convinced me there is a chasmic difference between the affluent tycoons of America’s industrial age and the opulence of royalty.
On the castle grounds, Pelișor Castle, “little Peleș,” is the Art Nouveau palace residence built for royal heirs Prince Ferdinand and Princess Marie. Gardens and walking paths surround the main buildings, inviting visitors to explore at a leisurely pace.
While Romania has become a parliamentarian democracy in recent decades, the royal family continues to be held in high regard by the Romanian people. The Peleș estate is owned by the descendants of King Carol I, on lease to the Romanian state to be used as a museum open to visitors. Additionally, the castle has been utilized as a filming location for multiple movies.
Peleș Castle can be toured in a couple of hours, depending on which ticket option visitors select. I made a day of it when I went, taking time to dine and shop in Sinaia. Tucked away in the Transylvanian mountains, it’s easy to see why the royal family chose this location for their magnificent home.
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Check out these accompanying guides:
Bran Castle
If Romania is globally associated with any one thing, it’s vampires, specifically Count Dracula. It wasn’t until I visited Bran Castle that I learned the immortal, bat-transforming mythological creature was anything more than a legend.
Bran Castle is commonly known as Dracula’s Castle, not because a vampire resides there. Rather, a man by the name of Bram Stoker described such a place as the home of his character Dracula in his book by the same name. Stoker himself never visited Romania and spliced together his tale from imagination, history, and folk lore of Eastern Europe. However, the connection held, and now hundreds of thousands of visitors come to experience Dracula’s Castle annually, with 2023 seeing over one million guests.
But what’s the real story? Was there ever a Count Dracula at this castle? Yes and no. Bran Castle is a museum and historic site, refurbished from its medieval state of disrepair as part of the manifold cultural initiatives of the late Queen Maria of Romania. The location was established as a fortress from the early 1200’s, and one can imagine the strategic benefits of the castle's panoramic views of Bran Gorge. During the mid-1400’s, it is rumored the castle was used by Vlad Țepeș, more famously known as Vlad the Impaler or Vlad Dracula. Apart from offering an interactive snapshot into Romania’s medieval life, Bran Castle also provides its guests with the real history of Vlad Dracula and how the historical character became the stuff of international legend.
Apart from the vampire lore, the castle is architecturally intriguing. The main structure of towers, covered balconies, and interior living spaces circle a picturesque open courtyard with a well. Guests can tour Queen Marie’s residence within the castle and explore artifacts from Romania’s real and legendary past. Two of my favorite aspects were the vibrant autumnal views of Bran Gorge from the castle windows and the wooden ceiling beams meticulously painted in traditional Romanian motifs.
Bran Castle is one of the most popular destinations in Romania. Unsurprisingly, Halloween is a peak tourism time for the castle. For those into dark tourism, the castle offers an age restricted tour add on of the torture chambers. Regardless of your interest in the fright fest, Bran Castle has plenty to offer year round, from history, to scenic views, to cultural events like concerts on the grounds.
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Corvin Castle
More than any other castle in Romania, Corvin Castle looks like something straight out of a fairy tale. From the wooden drawbridge traversing a moat-like ravine, to the conically spired towers, the marble columned Knight’s Hall, a bear pit, and a torture chamber, one half expects to see lords and ladies walk past at any given moment.
The castle is known by multiple names: Corvin's Castle, Castelul Corvinilor, Hunedoara Castle, and Hunyadi Castle. Ioan de Hunedoara, a man who also had ties to Bran Castle, is responsible for transforming a pre-existing fortress into the majestic Corvin Castle, beginning in the 1440’s and ending in the 1480’s. Unlike the much later royal residence of Peleș Castle, Corvin Castle was built as much for military defense as for a palatial occupancy. Thick stone walls and narrow vertical slat windows remain today as vestiges of a prior tumultuous era.
One particularly exceptional feature within the castle is the Loggia Matias, a fresco painting from the 15th century. While Romanian orthodox churches and monasteries from a similar time period are commonly decorated with murals, the Loggia Matias is the only known example of such artwork with a secular theme in all of Transylvania. The large scale piece illustrates the legend of a raven and a gold ring, the scandalous origin story of the Hunyadi-Corvin family line.
In the 1800’s the castle underwent a series of unfortunate renovations. Original architectural details were demolished, discarded, or covered with plaster. In 1907, a new chief architect was appointed. Using writings and drawings from conservation proponents, he began restoring the castle’s historical grandeur. Later twentieth century restoration efforts focused on accentuating the different construction periods of the castle, which ranged between Renaissance, Baroque, and Neo-Gothic as the castle complex was expanded by various owners. Most recently, priority has been given to the conservation and preservation of the castle’s history for future generations.
Corvin Castle was far less crowded than other castles I visited in Romania, which I loved. I spent several hours wandering through the castle grounds, reading placards explaining what I was looking at and its significance. For those up for the cardio, the towers can be ascended via stone staircases and wooden ladders. The views of Hunedoara, largely rural despite its history as an iron producing hub for centuries past, are spectacular and well worth the climb. In the bowels of the castle lies the dungeon, where legend has it Vlad Dracula was imprisoned for seven years. There visitors can discover tools medieval torture and their use, complete with manequin examples. This section is the only part of the castle tour not recommended for younger visitors. The Ladies Salon displays traditional furniture and textiles, and the Lapidarium exhibits stonework and architectural pieces reclaimed in the restoration work of the castle. Not far from the Bear Pit, used for executions, is the Chapel.
When you visit Corvin Castle, I have two tips. First, rent a car to get there. As much as I like utilizing the public transit system of Romania, Corvin Castle is not adjacent to any bus or railway stations. Second, check the castle’s event page prior to visiting. Along with medieval festivals, Corvin Castle hosts events ranging from robotics conventions to New Year’s Eve raves. Like Peleș Castle, Corvin Castle is also closed from time to time for filming movies and restoration work.
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I absolutely loved my time at each of these castles and would happily revisit them and other castles of this fairy tale land.
About the author:
About the author:
Amy Crowder moved to Romania from her native East Tennessee in 2018 to spend three months volunteering with a charitable organization. She fell in love with the people, the land, and the culture and accidentally stayed for over a year. Since then, she has traveled broadly throughout Europe, frequently revisiting Romania.
In 2023, Amy partnered with Thatch as a travel consultant and guide author, introducing global travelers to destinations she has been privileged to experience firsthand. She currently resides in Tennessee where she enjoys writing, specialty coffee, time with family, and planning her next global adventures. Her untitled debut novel is forthcoming.
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