Today, we had a private tour to Transylvania arranged thru Balkin Trails. Our guide, Catalin was great! It is so much nicer to have only 4 people on a tour instead of 40!!
Peles Castle
King Carol I of Romania (1839–1914), under whose reign the country gained its independence, first visited the site of the future castle in 1866 and fell in love with the magnificent mountain scenery.
Peleș Castle had its official Royal Ball of Inauguration on 7 October 1883. King Carol I and Queen Elizabeth lived in Foişor Villa during construction, as did King Ferdinand and Queen Mary during the construction of Pelişor Castle. King Carol II was born at the castle in 1893, giving meaning to the phrase "cradle of the dynasty, cradle of the nation" that Carol I bestowed upon Peleș Castle.
After King Michael I's forced abdication in 1947, the Communist regime seized all royal property, including the Peleș Estate. The castle was opened as a tourist attraction for a short time. It also served as a recreation and resting place for Romanian cultural personalities. The castle was declared a museum in 1953. Nicolae Ceauşescu closed the entire estate between 1975 and 1990, during the last years of the Communist regime. The area was declared a "State Protocol Interest Area", and the only persons permitted on the property were maintenance and military personnel. Ceauşescu did not like the castle very much and rarely visited.
After the December 1989 Revolution, Peleş Castle was re-established as a heritage site and opened to the public. In 2006, the Romanian government announced the restitution of the castle to former monarch Michael I. Negotiations soon began between the former king and the government of Romania, and have not concluded yet. The castle is on lease from the royal family to the Romanian state. Peleş Castle receives between a quarter and almost a half million visitors annually.
The entrance hall
Nice horsey......
King Carol I office
Portrait of Queen Elizabeth and her youngest child.
Beautiful marble fireplace
Music room
How would you like to be invited to dinner here?
Sinaia Monastery...
A great example of Romanian religious architecture. Situated in the Prahova Valley, the monastery gave its name to the nearby town of Sinaia. The monastery consists of two courtyards surrounded by low buildings. In the centre of each courtyard there is a small church built in the Byzantine style. One of them—"Biserica Veche" (The Old Church)—dates from 1695,
while the more recent "Biserica Mare" (The Great Church) was built in 1846.
The monks possess a library that is a repository for valuable jewels belonging to the Cantacuzino family, as well as the earliest Romanian translation of the Bible, dated 1668.
Prince Mihail Cantacuzino founded the monastery upon his return from a pilgrimage to Mount Sinai. The first buildings were completed between 1690 to 1695. It was designed to serve as a monastery as well as a fortified stronghold on the route from Brasov to Bucharest.
The initial plan was for the monastery to hold 12 monks, to imitate the Twelve Apostles, but in time the number of monks grew.
Bran Castle
Bran Castle situated near Bran and in the immediate vicinity of Braşov, is a national monument and landmark in Romania. The fortress is situated on the border between Transylvania and Wallachia. Commonly known as "Dracula's Castle" (although it is one among several locations linked to the Dracula legend, including Poenari Castle and Hunyad Castle), it is marketed as the home of the titular character in Bram Stoker's Dracula. There is, however, no evidence that Stoker knew anything about this castle, which has only tangential associations with Vlad III, voivode of Wallachia, the putative inspiration for Dracula. As discovered by the Dutch author Hans Corneel de Roos, the location Bram Stoker actually had in mind for Castle Dracula while writing his novel was an empty mountain top, Mount Izvorul Călimanului, 2,033 m high, located in the Transylvanian Kelemen Alps near the former border with Moldavia.
The castle is now a museum open to tourists, displaying art and furniture collected by Queen Marie.
Our guide, Catalin, leading us up to the castle
Bran Castle was built in the 14th century by the Transylvania merchants as a military fortress to defend the area against frequent Turkish attacks. After 1900, it was donated to the Romanian Royal Family and it became the favorite place of Queen Marie.
Queen Marie's bedroom
Pictures of Queen Marie in Romanian dress...as Queen...and as a nurse during the war.
Secret staircase to the 3rd floor...That's Rich almost to the top.
Room at the top of the secret staircase
A little windy and cold
On our way to the restaurant for lunch
Good food......Good beer
View from the deck of the restaurant over the valley with Bran Castle in the distance.
Views of the village of Brasov from an overlook....we decided against a walking tour of the town because of rain showers.
We ended our day with a "potty stop" at a gas station.....there was only one unisex....I was in the bathroom ....Delia and Charlie were right outside the door...I THOUGHT GUARDING THE DOOR....guess not!!!! Next thing I know this guy opens the door....we all laughed hysterically !!!! Guess you had to be there to appreciate the situation ....it is a bathroom stop I will never forget!!!
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