Peleș Castle, near Sinaia, in Prahova County, Romania.

 “Many a book is like a key to unknown chambers within the castle of one’s own self.”― Franz Kafka

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(near the town of Sinaia, in Prahova County, Romania)
Nestled at the foot of the spectacular Bucegi Mountains in the scenic Romanian town of Sinaia, Peles Castle is one of the most renowned castles in Europe. Found on an existing medieval route that links Transylvania and Wallachia, the castle has a long-standing association with a number of historical events and figures. The neo-Renaissance masterpiece was commissioned by Romania’s first king, Carol I, and its first stone laid in 1875. Over 40 years, dozens of builders, artists and wood-carvers brought Peleş Castle into existence. Today this former royal summer residence is a very popular tourist attraction. Built in the 19th century by the king, who had this Castle constructed for the royal family’s summer enjoyment, it sits on a hilltop in the Carpathian Mountains (a range forming an arc throughout Central and Eastern Europe), and the views from its gardens are great. The King was German and the castle exudes the look and feel of Bavaria; it perfectly fits the mountain setting. Many gold coins with the King’s image were buried under the cornerstone of the Castle; today they are known as "the small treasure under the castle."