Romania; a country rich in medieval heritage, is home to possibly some of the most jaw dropping castles in the world. While castles that were built between the 14th century and the 18th century were mostly fortresses built for defense reasons and were quite austere, those built during the latter part of 1800s were definitely more luxurious. Most of these imposing castles were erected precariously on rocky mountaintops overlooking the picturesque towns of Romania, and are definitely worth visiting. Tourists exploring Romania’s ancient castles will definitely be impressed with what they come across during their travels, as each of them are architectural masterpieces and are part of Romania’s multicultural legacy.
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Since Romania is home to quite a few castles, tourists planning to visit and explore these ancient and imposing architectural masterpieces should definitely pick the most stunning and famous castles in the country, as they may not have the time to visit all of them. Tourists could start off with a visit to the popular 14th century Corvin Castle also known as Hunyadi Castle or Hunedoara Castle, located in Hunedoara, Transylvania. Built on the site of a former Roman camp, this gothic style castle served as a fortress until mid 14th century, after which it became the residence of Transylvania’s ruler, who transformed it into one of the most stunning castles in the region.
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The elegant 19th century Peles Castle, located at the foot of the Bucegi Mountain, in the picturesque town of Sinaia is another popular castle in Romania. A masterpiece of German new renaissance architecture, Peles Castle is considered to be one of the most spectacular castles not just in Romania, but in the whole of Europe. Home to 160 rooms adorned with priceless European art, this stunning castle served as the summer residence for the royal family until 1947. Peles Castle; with its German stained glass windows, Murano crystal chandeliers, ceiling paintings, colourful frescoes and leather covered walls, is a definite must-visit when in Romania. The European and oriental pieces displayed in the armories, dating from the 15th century to the 19th century are quite impressive and should not be missed.
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While in Sinaia, tourists can also pay the much smaller art nouveau style, Pelisor Castle, a visit. Commissioned by King Ferdinand, this castle features a unique collection of Viennese furniture and Tiffany and Lalique glassware.
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Bran Castle, built in the mid 1300’s, owes its fame not only to its imposing building with towers and turrets, but also to the myth created around Bram Stroker’s count Dracula. Although the castle was built in gothic style, it also incorporates baroque and renaissance architectural elements in its design. Perched atop a 200-foot high rock, this magical castle has an aura of mystery due to its connection to the fictional count Dracula. While Bran Castle was used as the fictional home of Dracula, in reality it served as the royal residence of Queen Marie of Romania, from 1920 to 1957. Today, Bran Castle houses a museum that is open to visitors, and has displays of art and furniture collected by Queen Marie.
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