Castles in Romania that take visitors back in time

Romania is home to many beautiful castles that bring more charm to the country. Surrounded by history, these places take tourists back in time with their stories and legends. Some of them are well-known to tourists, such as the Bran Castle in Transylvania, or the Peles Castle in Sinaia while others are less known but have very interesting stories to tell. Here’s a list of some of Romania’s most beautiful castles: We can easily say that Bran Castle, also known as Dracula’s Castle, is the most well-known Romanian castle. Located near Bran in Transylvania, the castle’s history and stories attract increasingly more tourists every year. First records of a fortress on the spot date back to 1211. 700 years later, in 1920, the fortress was given to Romania’s Queen Marie and was converted into a royal summer residence until 1932. When Queen Marie died, in 1938, the castle was bequeathed to Princess Ileana. In 1944, the Princess set up a hospital at Bran, to treat soldiers wounded in the war. Four years later, the royal family was forced to leave the country by the communist regime, which turned the castle into a museum in 1956. After more than 50 years, in 2009, the castle fully re-entered the possession of its legal heirs, Archduke Dominic, Archduchess Maria Magdalena and Archduchess Elisabeth, according to information posted on the castle’s website. Bran Castle’s history is also connected to historical ruler Vlad Tepes, also known as Dracula. The castle is open to the public between 12:00 and 18:00 on Mondays, and between 09:00 and 18:00 from Tuesday to Sunday. An entry ticket costs RON 30 for adults, RON 20 for pensioners and RON 15 for students. Peles Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in Romania. Located in Sinaia mountain resort, Prahova Valley, Peles is a Neo-Renaissance castle built in the 19th century. It was built at the initiative of King Carol I of Romania (1839 – 1914). He decided to build the castle here after he visited the site and fell in love with the beautiful mountain scenery. After King Michael I’s abdication in 1947, the Communist regime seized the property and in 1953 it was declared museum. Nicolae Ceausecu closed the entire estate in 1975. After the revolution in December 1989, the whole estate was re-established as a heritage site, and the castle and its ground were reopened to the public. Pelisor Castle is also part of the Peles Castle complex and was built in 1899 – 1903 by order of King Carol I as a residence for his nephew and heir King Ferdinand. Peles was the world's first castle fully powered by locally produced electricity. The castle is closed on Mondays, but you can visit it between 11:00 and 17:00 on Tuesdays, and between 09:15 and 17:00 from Wednesday to Sunday. Ticket prices vary between RON 5 and RON 50, depending on the type of tour you choose. Travel Planner: Sinaia revisited – Peles Castle.