Pelișor Castle is a charming royal retreat nestled in the Prahova Valley, just a short walk from the grander Peleș Castle. Smaller and more intimate, it bears the unmistakable stamp of Queen Marie of Romania, who shaped every corner of it to reflect her artistic vision and personal spirit. Step inside and you step into a world where royal life meets Art Nouveau brilliance.

While Peleș impresses with its scale, Pelișor wins you over with warmth and personality. Its 99 rooms — compared to Peleș's 160 — feel genuinely lived-in. The Golden Bedroom dazzles with gilded lime-wood furniture carved to the queen's own designs, the chapel glows with marble from Ruschița and golden arcades, and the remarkable 'Golden Room' is wrapped in gilded stucco adorned with thistle leaves — Marie's nod to her Scottish birthplace. The queen's office features Brâncovenesc columns and a Romanian-style fireplace, making it one of the most personal spaces in any royal residence in Europe.

• Pelișor is located within the Peleș castle complex in Sinaia — enter from the town centre and follow the signed path up the hill; the walk from the main gate takes just a few minutes.
• Sinaia is easily reached by train from Bucharest (approx. 1.5 hours) or by car via the DN1/E60 road through the Prahova Valley.

• The castle houses an outstanding Art Nouveau decorative art collection, including works by E. Gallé, the Daum brothers, J. Hoffmann, and L.C. Tiffany.
• A unique highlight is a hand-painted parchment manuscript created by Queen Marie herself and gifted to Ferdinand in 1906.
• Allow around 1–1.5 hours for a comfortable visit to Pelișor alone; combine with Peleș for a full day out.

It was here that Marie and Ferdinand's children grew up — including the future King Carol II and the princesses who went on to become queens of Yugoslavia and Greece — giving Pelișor a genuinely human story behind its gilded walls.