Peleș EP.2 : The castle courtyard and memories

🏰 Peleș – The Castle of Time
A 9-part travel series: A breathtaking castle

The facade of Peleș Castle on the day we visited looked nothing like the postcards.
A large white cloth covered the steel frame, as if hiding something unfinished. But it made us want to take a closer look, as if there was a story lurking beneath the veil.

Peleș Castle took nearly 40 years to build. King Carol I of Romania chose it in the Carpathian Valley as a summer residence for his royal family. But deeper still, it symbolized "modern Romania." He wanted this small country to emerge from the shadow of the Ottoman Empire and demonstrate to Western Europe the glory of Eastern culture.

Even though the castle is currently undergoing restoration, just walking around it reveals glimpses of its original beauty—the Bavarian fretwork, the arched windows, and the clock that still seems to be silently telling the same time.

Perhaps the beauty of "unfinished" things lies in the effort to maintain them, not in their perfection.

I walked around to the side. It's a rare spot with no towers or golden domes, but it's my favorite spot—quiet, calm, and alive in its own way.

In the courtyard in front of the castle stands a marble fountain, surrounded by stone and bronze statues. The muscular lines, the erosion of the stone surface, and the tiny cracks bring them to life.

The sculptures in this garden are Neoclassical Garden Sculpture—a return to Greco-Roman styles, emphasizing balance and human ideals. This style was prevalent in the 18th and 19th centuries, favored by King Carol I because it reflected the "European" he wanted to instill in Romania.

In the courtyard stands a bronze statue of King Carol I, facing the Carpathian Mountains. His resolute pose seems to say, "There's still a long way to go."

Nearby is a statue of his wife, Queen Elizabeth. She was not only a ceremonial queen, but also a poet. Under the pen name Carmen Sylva, she wrote poetry and short stories, and advocated for women's education at a time when their voices were still faint.

Before leaving the courtyard, we stopped to take some photos under the afternoon sun. The gravel reflects so intensely that we squinted our eyes. In the background is an unfinished palace, but everyone in the picture smiles simply.

Sometimes, "unfinished memories" are beautiful enough to keep in mind.

📖 Next episode: Peleș EP.3 – While we wait...the castle slowly reveals itself.

📍 Peleș Castle, Sinaia, Romania

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