Sinaia is one of the most popular and beautiful Romanian tourist resorts and small towns, near the Bucegi Mountains, on the Prahova Valley, a place with several important landmarks - the Peles Castle being the best known - a lot of great views and hiking zones, rich forests, tall mountains, a great number of old, elegant houses, some hotels, shops and an impressive monastery, a casino, a memorial house of George Enescu, the most important Romanian composer. It is the town where the Romanian Royal Family spent a lot of time, and the place is closely connected to it's history, from the atmosphere to the elegance and charm of the Peles Castle. But most of it Sinaia is a small and lovely mountain town, in which tourists But few know that the name actually comes from the Sinaia Monastery, and at the origin from the Mountain of Sinai.
Sights :
The Railway Station : the first one was built in 1913, by a foreign company, while the second one, finished sometimes later, was only for the members of the Royal Family and special guests or foreign rulers. It was here that the prime-minister I.G. Duca was gunned down by three members of the Romanian Iron Guard, in December 1933, an event which marked violent shifts in the country's political world. You can admire the Royal Station, finished in 1939 by the architect Duiliu Marcu, in a traditional Romanian style, the station still not being opened for the general public. It is a beautiful work of art, and inside you can see a beautiful mural painting, showing a boar hunt.
Sinaia Monastery : this large and beautiful place of worship almost resembles a cathedral, due to it's size and decorations, and is nowadays one of the most popular and beloved places in the city. It was actually built in the 17th century by Mihail Cantacuzino, and the name was actually inspired by the Mount Sinai. Later the name was used for the whole town. It took five years for the monastery to be built, and in the beginning was both a sacred place and a fortress, protecting the trading route nearby.
An interesting element is that at the very beginning there were only 12 monks here, like the 12 men who first followed Jesus and were chosen as his apostles, but over the years their number grew, the Sinaia Monastery was enlarged. It was the place of fierce battles at the end of the 19th century, it was abandoned and then became once again a holy Christian place and is today an impressive Orthodox monument, with rich decorations, both carvings and paintings, beautiful religious services, and most of all a tranquil and peaceful atmosphere all around. Many come here for peace, others to admire the art, but nobody could ignore the Sinaia Monastery.
Peles Castle : this is not only the symbol of the place, the landmark which made Sinaia famous all around, but also one of the most popular objectives and treasures of Romania and, never the least, of Europe. This was a royal domain, later confiscated by the Communist regime, and nowadays it is once again the property of the Royal Family. It's construction began in the summer of 1875, during the reign of Carol I, the first King of modern Romania. In the end this would be a huge complex, with the castle, the Foisor Hunting Lodge and several administrative buildings, later being built the Pelisor Castle and the Villa of King Ferdinand. The castel was complete in 1883, Pelisor in 1903, and for the next decades would be a summer residence - but not only - for the Royal Family. It is impressive just to think that a century ago you could see here the king or queen of Romania, back in the days when all was freshly completed and decorated.
Confiscated by the Communist regime in 1947, the complex became a beautiful museums for several decades, and was also used as a writers' holiday place. The museum inside the Peles Castle is simply amazing, breathtaking, rich and with a varied permanent display, ranging from armours and medieval weapons to furniture, carpets, art of all kinds, personal items and photographs. It also has one of the largest painting collections of Europe, over 2000 works, many of them of tremendous value. A visit through the rooms of the castle, with the help of professional guides, is a real experience. In the latter years the whole domain was finally returned to the Royal Family, but most likely it will remain a museum for the years to come.
The Casino : although it may seem a little too much for a mountain resort to have a casino, this is more, much more than just a gambling place, it is a cultural and architectural landmark and a building worthy of the impression made by the Peles Castle. This impressive casino can be found in the Dimitrie Ghica Park and was built, according to King Carol I wishes, by the architect Petre Antonescu, in just one year, from 1912 to 1913. It was inspired by a similar place in Monte Carlo and legend says that in those times many made or lost a fortune here.
George Enescu Memorial House : this is another key place in the history of Sinaia, as it is the memorial house of the most important Romanian composer of all times, a place where Enescu used to take his refuge from the maddening modern life. The mansion was built in 1923 - 1926, according to the plans of Radu Dudescu, and George Enescu would spend most of his spare time here, in 1926 - 1946, the place being his favourite place to relax. In 1946, when he decided to finally leave the country, the musician decided to donate the mansion to the Romanian state.
George Enescu not only relaxed here, enjoyed the air and the beauty of the nature, but also composed some of his best pieces, as the wilderness and the specific atmosphere of Sinaia seemed to inspire him. Being restored after 1990, the George Enescu Memorial House in Sinaia, Romania, is a must for anyone who comes to the town. You can see a rich collection of personal objects - including the maestro's piano - documents, photographs, music sheets, original recordings and on and on.
You can also walk around the restort, go on hikes or in the winder you can sky, discover the villas, small shops, restaurants and bars, hotels, parks and many other attractions. For this is surely one of the most beautiful places in the Romanian Bucegi Mountains.
Photo : primariasinaia.ro
September 2008
