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Romanian atractions: Romania's Castles
Peles Castle, nestled in the valley of the western Bucegi mountains about
an hour north of Bucharest, Sinaia is home to the fabulous Peles Castle, a
fairy-tale-like edifice built by King Carol 1 in the 19th century as the
royal family's summer residence. Its interiors are an opulent display of
elegant design and historical artifact. An absolute must-see, inside and
out!
Bran Castle This medieval fortress, often referred to as Dracula's castle,
was built in 1377 to protect nearby Brasov from invaders. Vlad Dracula
never really stayed here, but it was a favorite refuge of Queen Marie in
the 1920s and 1930s. The castle's rooms and towers surround an inner
courtyard. It sits high atop a hill overlooking the picturesque village of
Bran. On the grounds below, there's an open-air ethnographic museum of old
village buildings with exhibits of furniture, household objects and
costumes.
Corvin Castle This is the most important monument of Gothic architecture in
Transylvania. Built in the 14th century at Hunedoara, on the site of a
former Roman camp, it served as a defense stronghold and a princely
residence. In 1390, Hungarian king Sigismund of Luxembourg gave the
fortress to prince Voicu of Hunedoara as a reward for his military deeds.
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