History / Tourist Attractions

History

Located in a magnificent mountain landscape, Sinaia is 120 km away from the capital city of Romania, Bucharest, and only 90 km away from the Henry Coanda International Airport. It is considered one of the oldest mountain resorts in Romania, also known as the “Pearl of the Carpathians”.

Sinaia is one of the most important leisure resorts in the country, providing the best leisure and treatment conditions for people of all ages throughout the year. It has a subalpine climate with cool summers and not too cold winters for a mountain resort. The snow cover in winter lasts from the end of September until the end of March.

The town of Sinaia was first mentioned in documents in 1690 when the first homes of scutelnici were founded near the Sinaia Monastery (1690-1695) to protect it, and later formed a stable population. Initially, the village was named “Izvorul” and from 1874 it bears its current name.

It was declared a city in 1880 when the town became the summer residence of King Carol I.

Tourist Attractions

Peleș Castle

One of the main attractions of the Sinaia resort is the Peleș Castle. It is one of the best-preserved royal palaces in Europe and served as a summer residence for the first Hohenzollern king of Romania, Carol I. Built in the second half of the 19th century, the building is the king's attempt to imitate the style of his homeland, creating a Bavarian ensemble in the mountains of Romania.

Today, Peleș Castle is the main tourist attraction of the Sinaia resort, considered one of the most valuable architectural monuments in Romania.

In this beautiful castle, which was built between 1875-1883, different architectural styles can be recognized, such as elements of the German Renaissance, which can be observed together with the Gothic style.

Sinaia Monastery

Sinaia Monastery is a historical monastery located in the town of Sinaia, Romania. The large church of the monastery was originally built in a more modest form between 1842 and 1846 during the time of the abbots Ioasaf and Paisie, using funds from the monastery.

During the time of abbot Nifon Popescu (1888 - 1909), the bell tower (1892) was added on the southern side of the monastery compound, where a 1,700 kg bell from the Colțea Tower in Bucharest was installed.

In 1895, on the occasion of the 200th anniversary of the consecration of the small church (1695), the museum was opened to the public, representing the first exhibition of religious objects in the country.

Under the administration of the Eforia of Civil Hospitals, which oversaw the assets of the monastery, major restoration work took place between 1897 and 1903, giving the church its current appearance.

George Enescu Memorial House

The connection between George Enescu, who through his two "Romanian Rhapsodies" managed to make the new Romanian music known throughout the world, and the city of Sinaia was not accidental.

He enjoyed the support of Queen Elisabeth, a great art lover who, recognizing the talent of the young Enescu, offered him a room in a quiet corner of Peles Castle where he could study.

The castle thus became Enescu's launching pad into the musical world.

Long tours abroad followed, but his love for the scenery of Sinaia led him to use the money earned from his first tour in America to build a villa here between 1923 and 1926, which he named Villa Luminis.

Sinaia Casino

Cazinoul Sinaia, the host of numerous conferences, symposiums, national and international congresses and meetings, is also a preferred venue for organizing exceptional exhibitions of plastic art and photography, book launches, concerts, and shows. In the intimate setting of the concert hall of Peleș Castle, cultural events, music evenings, and concerts are organized.

It is located in Dimitrie Ghica Park and was also built at the initiative of Carol I. The construction began in 1912 and was completed one year later.

The works were supervised by architect Petre Antonescu, who was also the author of the plans.

Cazinoul had Baron de Marcay as its first shareholder, who was also a shareholder of the casino in Monte Carlo, after which the one in Sinaia was built in the same style.

Babele and the Sphinx

The stone mushrooms called "Babele" - natural monuments - located right in front of the cabin, and the "Sphinx" in the immediate vicinity, are the main attraction of the area.

The Great Sphinx of Bucegi was photographed for the first time around 1900, but from the front, not from the profile as it appears in the usual images. It was only named the Sphinx starting in 1936. The image of the Sphinx appeared when the rock, now 8 meters high and 12 meters wide, was viewed from a certain angle, using an axis that starts from it towards Baba Vântoaselor, as another nearby rock is called. The rock with the appearance of a man looks towards the circle of precession of the equinoxes. The megalith takes on its clearest contour on November 21, when the sun sets.