Cantacuzino Castle

The Cantacuzino Castle was built in 1911 at the request of prince Grigore Cantacuzino. Until the nationalisation of the castle by the communists in 1948 it belonged to the Cantacuzino family. After 1948 it was turned into a sanatorium belonging to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, period of time in which the communist nobility enjoyed the privilege of living inside the castle. In the present, the Cantacuzino Castle holds renowned works of art, famous paintings, displayed in sumptuous halls that delight the view of the visitors. In the central pavilion are exhibited the blazons of the families related to the Cantacuzino family and the portraits of the family’s members. Windows with remarkably designed stained glass, ceilings with beams that were hand painted by famous artists, wood railings of a rare matter that are superbly carved-out, white stone fireplaces and mosaic ornaments are some of the attractions offered by this wonderful castle. The Cantacuzino castle is less known comparatively to the Peleș castle, but it has a history at least as beautiful, the Cantacuzino family being part of the wealthy noble families of Romania at the time.

Sinaia Monastery

Located at the foothills of the Bucegi mountain, the monastery was built between 1690-1695 by the nobleman Spatar Cantacuzino. The history of this monastery merges with the story of some solitary monks that, in their endeavor to pray on this isolated lands, established a family, a settlement. Everything happened 300 years before the construction of the monastery. In the beginning the monks lived between the cliffs, in caves, and later in rudimentary houses, built from stone. A tragic moment, recorded in history, is linked to the year 1453, and the fall of Constantinopole, when forced to choose between their faith and death by beheading, the monks chose to retreat in the mountains and continue to pray there in secret at their ancient belief.The big church was built between 1867-1875. King Carol I and Queen Elisabeth lived a few years in the monastery’s chambers, until the construction of the Peleș castle progressed enough to move there. The king will never be able to forget the period of time he spent at the monastery, spending the remaining of his life to protect the monastery and support it materially.