Today a historical monument,
Peleş Castle (
RomanianRomanian or Daco-Romanian is a Romance language spoken by around 24 to 28 million people, primarily in Romania and Moldova. It has official status in Romania, Republic of Moldova, and the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina in Serbia...
:
Castelul Peleş ) is a Neo-Renaissance
castleA castle is a defensive structure seen as one of the main symbols of the Middle Ages. The term has a history of scholarly debate surrounding its exact meaning, but it is usually regarded as being distinct from the general terms fort or fortress, in that it describes a residence of a monarch or...
placed in an idyllic setting in the
Carpathian MountainsThe Carpathian Mountains or Carpathians are a range of mountains forming an arc roughly long across Central and Eastern Europe, making them the largest mountain range in Europe...
, near
SinaiaSinaia is a town and a mountain resort in Romania. The town was named after Sinaia Monastery, around which it was built; the monastery in turn is named after the Biblical Mount Sinai...
, in
Prahova CountyPrahova is a county of Romania, in the historical region Muntenia, with the capital city at Ploieşti.-Demographics:In 2002, it had a population of 829,945 and the population density was 176/km². It is Romania's most populated county, having a population density double than the country's mean...
,
RomaniaRomania is a country located in Southeastern and Central Europe, North of the Balkan Peninsula, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea. Almost all of the Danube Delta is located within its territory...
, on an existing medieval route linking
TransylvaniaTransylvania is a historical region in the central part of Romania. Bounded on the east and south by the Carpathian mountain range, historical Transylvania extended in the west to the Apuseni Mountains; however, the term frequently encompasses not only Transylvania proper, but also the historical...
and
WallachiaWallachia or Walachia is a historical and geographical region of Romania. It is situated north of the Danube and south of the Southern Carpathians...
, built between 1873 and 1914; its inauguration was held in 1883.
History
King
Carol I of RomaniaCarol I of Romania, original name Prince Karl Eitel Friedrich Zephyrinus Ludwig of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, later simply of Hohenzollern Carol I of Romania, original name Prince Karl Eitel Friedrich Zephyrinus Ludwig of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, later simply of Hohenzollern Carol I of Romania,...
(1839-1914), one of the great Romanian kings and conqueror of the National Independence, first visited the region and future site of the castle in 1866, when he fell in love with the rugged but magnificent mountain scenery. So, in 1872, a total of one thousand "pogoane", approx. , is purchased by the king and Piatra Arsa region becomes The Royal Domain of Sinaia, destined to be a hunting preserve and summer retreat for the monarch. On August 22, 1875, the foundation for Peleş Castle, the city of Sinaia, and indeed for the country of Romania itself was established. Several other buildings, annexed to the castle, were built simultaneously: The Guard's Chambers, The Economat Building, The Foişor Hunting Chateau, The Royal Stables. The Power Plant was also constructed then, and Peleş became world's first castle fully operated by electric power. The "Sipot" Villa was constructed later. This would serve as the work site of architect Karel Liman. Liman would later supervise the building of
PelişorPelişor Castle is a castle in Sinaia, Romania, part of the same complex as the larger castle of Peleş. It was built in 1899–1903 by order of King Carol I, as the residence for his nephew and heir, the future King Ferdinand and Ferdinand's consort Queen Marie.In 2006, it was decided that the palace...
chateau (1889-1903, the future residence of
King FerdinandFerdinand was the King of the Romanians from 10 October 1914 until his death.-Early life:Born in Sigmaringen in southwestern Germany, the Roman Catholic Prince Ferdinand Viktor Albert Meinrad of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, later simply of Hohenzollern, was a son of Prince Leopold of...
and
Queen MarieMarie of Edinburgh was Queen of Romania as spouse of King Ferdinand of Romania.-Early life:...
of Romania), as well as of the King's Ferdinand Vila in the Royal Sheepfold Meadow (the actual Sheepfold Meadow). First three initial design plans for Peleş were copies of other palaces from western Europe but king Carol I rejected them all as they were too costly and unoriginal. Second architect, Johannes Schultz won by presenting a more original plan, something that appealed to the king's taste: a grand palatial alpine villa combining different structures of classic European styles, mostly following Italian elegance and German aesthetics in Renaissance lines. The cost of the castle itself between 1875 and 1914 was estimated to be 16 000 000 gold Romanian
leiThe leu is the currency of Romania. It is subdivided into 100 bani . The name of the currency means "lion". On 1 July 2005, Romania underwent a currency reform, switching from the previous leu to a new leu . 1 RON is equal to 10,000 ROL...
(approx. $US 120 million today). Between three and four hundred men worked consistently on it. Queen
Elisabeth of RomaniaPauline Elisabeth Ottilie Luise zu Wied was the Queen Consort of King Carol I of Romania, widely known by her literary name of Carmen Sylva....
, during the construction phase, wrote on her journal:
Italians were masons, Romanians were building terraces, the Gypsies were coolies. Albanians and Greeks worked in stone, Germans and Hungarians were carpenters. Turks were burning brick. Engineers were Polish and the stone carvers were Czech. The Frenchmen were drawing, the Englishmen were measuring, and so was then when you could see hundreds of national costumes and fourteen languages in which they spoke, sang, cursed and quarreled on all dialects and tones, a joyful mix of men, horses, cart oxen and domestic buffaloes.
Construction has seen a slight halt during the Romanian War of Independence in 1877-78, but soon afterwards plans grew in size and growth was rapid. Peleş Castle has seen its official Royal Ball of inauguration in 7 Oct. 1883.
Until the castle was built, King Carol I and Queen Elizabeth lived in Foişor Villa (where King Ferdinand and Queen Mary also resided during the construction of Pelişor Castle). Even
King Carol IICarol II reigned as King of Romania from 8 June 1930 until 6 September 1940. Eldest son of Ferdinand I, King of Romania, and his wife, Queen Marie, a daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second eldest son of Queen Victoria...
lived in Foişor Villa when he was King of Romania (1930-40, except in 1932-3 when the hunting house was destroyed by fire). King
Carol II of RomaniaCarol II reigned as King of Romania from 8 June 1930 until 6 September 1940. Eldest son of Ferdinand I, King of Romania, and his wife, Queen Marie, a daughter of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, the second eldest son of Queen Victoria...
was born at the castle in 1893, giving meaning to the phrase "craddle of the dinasty, cradle of the nation" that Carol I bestowed upon the Peleş Castle.
After
King MichaelMichael reigned as King of the Romanians from 20 July 1927 to 8 June 1930, and again from 6 September 1940, until forced to abdicate by the communists backed up by orders of Stalin to the Soviet armies of occupation on 30 December 1947...
's forced abdication in 1947, the Communist regime seized all royal property, the whole Peleş complex except the homonymous castle which was opened for tourism became, for a short time, a creation and resting place for Romanian cultural personalities. The castle was declared a museum in 1953. During the last years of the communist regime, between 1975-1990,
Nicolae CeauşescuNicolae Andruţă Ceauşescu was a Romanian politician who was the Secretary General of the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 to 1989, President of the Council of State from 1967, and President of Romania from 1974 to 1989...
closed the entire area. The only persons accepted in this area were maintenance and military guard personnel. The whole area was declared a state protocol interest area.
It is interesting to note that Ceauşescu did not like the castle very much and visited rarely. According to some that is due to the wicked resident museographers, whom , counting on Ceausescu couple's paranoid health phobias, declared the building is infested with dangerous fungus
Serpula lacrymansSerpula lacrymans is one of the fungi that are responsible for dry rot. It is a basidiomycete in the order Boletales.-Nomenclature:...
, whom, in 1980s was true to a certain extent but was only affecting the timber. After the
December 1989 RevolutionThe Romanian Revolution of 1989 was a week-long series of increasingly violent riots and fighting in late December 1989 that overthrew the Government of Nicolae Ceauşescu. After a trial, Ceauşescu and his wife Elena were executed...
, Peleş and Pelişor Castles were re-integrated into the tourism circuit. At this moment, The Foişor Castle remains - like in the past times - a presidential residence, unlike the Economat Building and the Guard's Chambers Building where hotels, restaurants and terraces have been established. The other components of Peleş complex became either tourism villas or state protocol buildings. In 2006, the Romanian government announced restitution of the castle to king
Michael I of RomaniaMichael reigned as King of the Romanians from 20 July 1927 to 8 June 1930, and again from 6 September 1940, until forced to abdicate by the communists backed up by orders of Stalin to the Soviet armies of occupation on 30 December 1947...
. Soon after re-obtaining the title, negotiations begun and Peleş re-became national treasure open to public as historic monument and museum. In exchange the Romanian Government granted 30 million euros to the
Casa RegalaThe current Romanian Royal Family , an integral part of the larger Royal House of Romania, consists of the family of King Michael I of Romania who bear a Royal title...
(The Royal House of Romania). The sum for the remaining villas and surrounding chalets and chateaus are still being negotiated but will eventually remain in possession of the state and touristic circuit after repurchasing (2007).
Every year since opening, Peleş Castle received between a quarter to almost half million visitors every year.
Peleş Castle was host to grand figures guests from royalty and politicians to artists. One of the most memorable visits was that of
KaiserKaiser is the German title meaning "Emperor", with Kaiserin being the female equivalent, "Empress". Like the Russian Czar it is directly derived from the Latin Emperors' title of Caesar, which in turn is derived from the name of Julius Caesar...
Franz Joseph I of Austro-Hungary, then one of the world's most powerful men, on 2 October 1896, who later wrote in a letter: The Royal Castle amongst other monuments, surrounded by extremely pretty landscape with gardens built on terraces, all at the edge of dense forests. The castle itself is very impressive through the riches it has accumulated: old and new canvases, old furniture, weapons, all sort of curios, everything placed with good taste. We did a long hike in the mountains, afterwards we picnicked on the green grass, surrounded by the Gypsy music. We took many pictures, and the atmosphere was extremely pleasant.
Artists like George Enesco,
Sarah BernhardtSarah Bernhardt was a legendary French stage actress, and has been referred to as "the most famous actress in the history of the world". Bernhardt made her fame on the stages of Europe in the 1870s, and was soon in demand in Europe and the Americas...
,
Jacques ThibaudJacques Thibaud was a French violinist.Thibaud was born in Bordeaux and studied the violin with his father before entering the Paris Conservatoire at the age of thirteen. In 1896 he jointly won the conservatory's violin prize with Pierre Monteux...
or
Vasile AlecsandriVasile Alecsandri was a Romanian poet, playwright, politician, and diplomat. He collected Romanian folk songs and was one of the principal animators of the 19th century movement for Romanian cultural identity and union of Moldavia and Wallachia.-Origins and childhood:Alecsandri was born in the...
visited often as guests of Queen Elizabeth of Romania (known to literature as Carmen Sylva).
Even after the fall of the monarchy, alongside Romanian prominent figures from political and artistic life, other foreign demnitaries like Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Muammar al-Gaddafi, Yasser Arafat were all entertained here.
The castle was featured in the 2009 film release
The Brothers BloomThe Brothers Bloom is a American postmodern caper film written and directed by Rian Johnson and starring Mark Ruffalo, Adrien Brody, Rachel Weisz, Ricky Jay, Rinko Kikuchi, and Robbie Coltrane. It was released in four theaters on May 15, 2009, and expanded into wide release two weeks later on May...
. The exterior of the castle is used to represent a large estate in New Jersey, the home of the eccentric billionaire Penelope played by
Rachel WeiszRachel Hannah Weisz is an English actress and model. She gained wide public recognition after her portrayal of Evelyn "Evy" Carnahan-O'Connell in the films The Mummy and The Mummy Returns. In 2001, she starred opposite Hugh Grant in the hit About a Boy and continued to garner leading roles in...
.
Description
The first architect was the Viennese Wilhelm von Doderer (1825-1900) and then German Johannes Schultz (1876-1883). Later additions were made between 1893 and 1914 by the Czech architect Karel Liman, who added designed the towers, including the main central tower, 66 m in height.
By form and function, Peleş, is truly a
palace but affectionately and consistently called a
castle instead, by all.
Its architectural style is a
Neo-RenaissanceRenaissance Revival is an all-encompassing style designation that covers many aspects of 19th century architectural revival styles which were neither Grecian nor Gothic but which instead drew inspiration from a wide range of classicizing Italian modes...
of romantic inspiration that can find a corespondent in 19th century ideals with the monumental Gothic Revival of Schloss Neuschwanstein in
BavariaBavaria , with an area of and almost 12.5 million inhabitants, is located in the southeast of Germany and is the largest state of Germany by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, ironically called a castle as well.
A Saxon influence can be observed in the interior courtyard facades that have rich and ornated
fachwerkFachwerk is a German term that often describes timber-framed buildings in general, but refers in particular to a certain kind of wall framing with small square panels....
similar to northern Europe alpine architecture and allegorical hand painted murals. Interior decoration is mostly a Baroque influence with heavy carved woods and exquisite fabrics.
Peleş Castle has 3200 sq. meters of floor plan, over 170 rooms,30 bathrooms, many with dedicated themes from world cultures (in similar fashion with other Romanian palaces, like
Cotroceni PalaceCotroceni Palace is a palace of Bucharest which is the residence of the President of Romania, located at Bulevardul Geniului, nr. 1.On Cotroceni hill, in 1679, Şerban Cantacuzino built a monastery...
for example), themes that can vary by function (offices, libraries, armouries, art galleries) or by style (Florentine, Turkish, Moorish, French, Imperial) all extremely lavishly furnished and decorated to the slightest detail. The establishment hosts one of the finest collections of art in East and Central Europe, consisting of statues, paintings, furniture, arms and armour, gold, silver, stained glass, ivory, fine china, tapestries and rugs; the collection of arms and armour has over 4000 pieces, divided between Eastern and Western war, ceremonial or hunting spreading over four centuries in history. Oriental rugs come from the finest sources:
BukharaBukhara , also transliterated Bukhoro and Bokhara, from the Soghdian βuxārak , is the capital of the Bukhara Province of Uzbekistan. The nation's fifth-largest city, it has a population of 237,900...
,
MosulMosul is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some 400 km northwest of Baghdad...
,
IspartaIsparta is a city in western Turkey and the provincial capital of the Isparta Province. The city's population is 250,000 and elevation from sea level is 1035 m. Another name of the city is "City of Roses"...
, Saruk and
Smirnaİzmir, historically Smyrna, is Turkey's third most populous city and the country's largest port after Istanbul. It is located along the outlying waters of the Gulf of İzmir, by the Aegean Sea. It is the seat of İzmir Province, which has an area of 7350 km
2...
, porcelain from
SevresSèvres is a commune in the south-western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located 9.9 km from the center of Paris.The town is known for its porcelain manufacture, the Manufacture nationale de Sèvres, making the famous Sèvres porcelain, as well as being the location of the International Bureau...
and
MeissenMeissen is a town of approximately 30,000 about northwest of Dresden on both banks of the Elbe river in the Free State of Saxony, in eastern Germany. Meissen is the home of Meissen porcelain, the Albrechtsburg castle, the Gothic Meissen Cathedral and the Meissen Frauenkirche...
, leather from
Córdoba||-||-||}Córdoba is a city in Andalusia, southern Spain, and the capital of the province of Córdoba. Located at 37.88° North, 4.77° West, on the Guadalquivir river, it was founded in ancient Roman times as Corduba by Claudius Marcellus...
but perhaps the most acclaimed are the hand painted stained glass vitralios, mostly Swiss .
A towering statue of King Carol I by
Raffaello RomanelliRaffaello Romanelli was an Italian sculptor, born in Florence, Italy. He studied with his father Pasquale Romanelli , who in turn had studied with the sculptor Bartolini. He continued his studies at the Florence Academy with Augusto Rivalta and Emilio Zocchi, both well respected academians of...
overlooks the main entrance but many other statues are present on the seven Italian neo-Renaissance terrace gardens, mostly of Carrara marble executed by the Italian sculptor Romanelli. The gardens also host fountains, urns, stairways, guarding lions, marble paths and other decorative pieces.
Peleş Castle shelters one of the most important and most valuable painting collections in Europe, almost 2,000 pieces. An interesting account about Peleş Castle remains the one that comes from
Angelo de GubernatisCount Angelo de Gubernatis , Italian man of letters, was born at Turin and educated there and at Berlin, where he studied philology....
(1840-1913), an Italian writer who arrived in 1898 in Sinaia as a guest of the Royal Family:
Inaugurated in 1883, Peleş Castle is not only a pleasant place during summer time; it has been conceived to be also a national monument, meant to keep the trophies of the Plevna victoryThe Siege of Pleven during the Russo-Turkish War , saw a major struggle between the joint army of Russia and Romania; and the Ottoman Empire. The Turkish defense held up the main Russian advance southwards into Bulgaria, ensuring other great powers of the time to actively support the Ottoman cause...
, which explains the simple but majestic style. The castle's courtyard - Bramantes type - with a fountain in the middle, in the most accurate Renaissance style, pleasantly surprises the visitor. The courtyard has a merry decoration, made out of plants and flowers; all round, the building's facades are animated by elegant drawings. The interior of the castle is a true wonder, due to the beauty and richness of the sculpted wood and the stained glass windows. As you get in the vestibule, you are on the Honor Staircase, in front of the most important rulers of old Romania: Holy Stephen the GreatStephen III of Moldavia or Stephen III , also known as Stephen the Great was Prince of Moldavia between 1457 and 1504 and the most prominent representative of the House of Muşat.During his reign, he strengthened Moldavia and maintained its independence against...
, and Michael the BraveMichael the Brave was the Prince of Wallachia , of Transylvania , and of Moldavia , the three Romanian principalities that he united under his rule.He was born under the family name of Pătraşcu...
. In a proud attitude, wearing whether a fur cap or with the gold crown on their heads, they impress through the brilliant dressing, in which the white of ermine blends with the emerald green or the red of the large mantle. On the right and on left side of the two rulers, as servant knights, four shield bearers carry the Romanian Provinces escutcheons. Inside the Queen's library, over the groups of children symbolizing poetry and science, there is the image of UlfilasUlfilas, or Gothic Wulfila , bishop, missionary, and Bible translator, was a Goth or half-Goth who had spent time inside the Roman Empire at the peak of the Arian controversy. Ulfilas was ordained a bishop by Eusebius of Nicomedia and returned to his people to work as a missionary...
(311-383 a.d.) a GothThe Goths were a heterogeneous East Germanic tribe. The historian Jordanes claimed that the Goths arrived from semi-legendary Scandza, believed to be somewhere in modern Götaland , and that a Gothic population had crossed the Baltic Sea before the 2nd century, lending their name to the region of...
religious ruler, from the northern side of Danube River, translating the Bible in their language and bringing his contribution in spreading Christianity, a Christian apostle of the Romans, and the image of Dante AlighieriDurante degli Alighieri , commonly known as Dante, was an Italian poet of the Middle Ages. His central work, the Divina Commedia , is often considered the greatest literary work composed in the Italian language and a masterpiece of world literature.In...
, the creator of western poetry. Passing the library and getting into the dormitory, we will meet the image of Genies and Allegories of Painting and Music, as well as a series of legendary themes. Inside the apartments reserved for the honor guests, a number of coat-of-arms were shining through their heraldic abundance, speaking about the ancestors of the Royal Family. But among all, the glass paintings from the Peleş Castle are, beyond any doubt, the most profound and shining. Here, the subjects are taken out of AlecsandriVasile Alecsandri was a Romanian poet, playwright, politician, and diplomat. He collected Romanian folk songs and was one of the principal animators of the 19th century movement for Romanian cultural identity and union of Moldavia and Wallachia.-Origins and childhood:Alecsandri was born in the...
's poetry.
The Museum
Of the 168 rooms in the castle, only 35 are accessible to the public. While an important area is in the upper levels, this is off limits. Only the museum in the basement and the rooms on the first floor can be visited. The visiting hours are from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m Wednesday through Sunday. On Mondays the castle is closed and on Tuesdays the hours are till 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. These visiting hours are subject to change by the current owners of the castle. Each year in November the castle is closed to the public for the whole month, during which time it is used solely by the owners. Admission fee is 15 RON. Additionally you must check your camera or pay 30 RON to take photos or 50 RON for video.
Location
Northwest of the town of
SinaiaSinaia is a town and a mountain resort in Romania. The town was named after Sinaia Monastery, around which it was built; the monastery in turn is named after the Biblical Mount Sinai...
, 60 km from
BraşovBraşov is a city in Romania and the capital of Braşov County, with a population of 284,596, according to the 2002 census, is the 8th largest Romanian city....
and 135 km away from
BucharestBucharest is the capital city, industrial and financial centre of Romania. It is the largest city in Romania, located in the southeast of the country, at , and lies on the banks of the Dâmboviţa River....
, Romania's capital.
Nested in the south-eastern Carpathian Mountains, the complex is composed of three monuments: Peleş Castle, Pelişor Chateau and Foisor Hunting Chateau.
Most notable grand rooms are:
Holul de Onoare (The Honour Hall)
was finished completely only in 1911, under the guidance of Karel Liman, it spreads over three flours. Walls are dressed in exquisitely carved woodwork, mostly European walnut and exotic timbers. Bass-reliefs, alabaster sculptures and retractable stained glass panels complete the decor.
Apartamentul Imperial (The Imperial Suite)
Believed to be a tribute to the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph I, who visited the palace as a friend of the Romanian royal family. Hence why, decorator Auguste Bembe preferred the sumptuous Austrian Baroque in style of Empress Maria Theresa. A perfectly preserved five hundred years old Cordoban tooled leather wall cover is the rarest of such quality.
Sala Mare De Arme (The Grand Armoury or The Arsenal)
is where sixteen hundred of the four thousands Peleş Castle's pieces of weaponry and armour reside, one of Europe's finest collection of hunting and war implements, timelined between 14th and 19th century, are on display. The king himself added pieces from his victory against the
Ottoman TurksThe Ottoman Turks were the subdivision of the Ottoman Muslim Millet that dominated the ruling class of the Ottoman Empire. Reliable information about the early history of the Ottomans is scarce. According to some sources , the leader of the Kayi tribe of the Oguz Turks, Ertugrul, left Persia in...
during the War of Independence. Famous are the complete Maximilian armour for horse and rider and a 15th century German "nobles only" decapitation broadsword. Also a wide array of polearms (glaives, halberds, lances, hunting spears), firearms (muskets,
blunderbussThe blunderbuss is a muzzle-loading firearm with a short, large caliber barrel, which is flared at the muzzle, and used with shot. The blunderbuss is an early form of shotgun adapted to military and defensive use...
es, snaphaunces, flintlocks pistols), axes, crossbows and swords (rapiers, sabers, broadswords and many others).
Sala Mica De Arme (The Small Armoury)
is where predominantly Oriental (mostly Indo-Persian, Ottoman and Arab) arms and armour pieces are in exhibit, many of them made in gold and silver, inlaid with precious stones. Including
chainmailMail is a type of armour consisting of small metal rings linked together in a pattern to form a mesh....
armours, kulah khud helmets, scimitars, yataghans, daggers, miquelets, matchlocks, lances, pistols, dhal shields, axes and spears.
Sala De Teatru (The Playhouse) decorated in "Sun King", Louis XIV style, with sixty seats and a Royal Box. Architectural decoration and mural paintings are signed by Gustav Klimt and Frantz Matsch.
Sala Florentina (The Florentine Room) combines revived elements of the
Italian RenaissanceThe Italian Renaissance began the opening phase of the Renaissance, a period of great cultural change and achievement in Europe that spanned the period from the end of the 13th century to about 1600, marking the transition between Medieval and Early Modern Europe...
, mostly Florence. Most impressive are the solid bronze doors executed in Rome ateliers of Luigi Magni and the Grand Marble Fireplace executed by Paunazio with Michelangelo motifs.
Salonul Maur (The Moorish Salon)
was executed under the guidance of Charles Lecompte de Nouy, and as the name suggests it is meant to embody elements of North-African and Hispanic
MoorishThe description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of Muslim people of Berber, Black African and Arab descent from North Africa, some of whom came to conquer and occupy the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. The North Africans termed it Al Andalus, comprising most...
style. Mother of pearl inlaid furniture, fine Persian Saruk and
OttomanThe Ottoman Empire or Ottoman State , also known by its contemporaries as the Turkish Empire or Turkey , was an empire that lasted from 1299 to November 1, 1922 The Ottoman Empire or Ottoman State (Ottoman Turkish: دَوْلَتِ عَلِیَّهِ عُثْمَانِیَّه Dawlet-il ʿAliyyat-il ʿOs̠māniyye, Modern Turkish:...
IspartaIsparta is a city in western Turkey and the provincial capital of the Isparta Province. The city's population is 250,000 and elevation from sea level is 1035 m. Another name of the city is "City of Roses"...
rugs, Oriental weapons and armour are perhaps the most expressive elements, complete with an indoor marble fountain.
Salonul Turcesc (The Turkish Parlor)
emulates
OttomanThe Ottoman Empire or Ottoman State , also known by its contemporaries as the Turkish Empire or Turkey , was an empire that lasted from 1299 to November 1, 1922 The Ottoman Empire or Ottoman State (Ottoman Turkish: دَوْلَتِ عَلِیَّهِ عُثْمَانِیَّه Dawlet-il ʿAliyyat-il ʿOs̠māniyye, Modern Turkish:...
"joie de vivre" atmosphere, a room full of Turkish
Smirnaİzmir, historically Smyrna, is Turkey's third most populous city and the country's largest port after Istanbul. It is located along the outlying waters of the Gulf of İzmir, by the Aegean Sea. It is the seat of İzmir Province, which has an area of 7350 km
2...
rugs and copperware from
AnatoliaAnatolia is a geographic region of Western Asia, comprising most of the modern Republic of Turkey. The region is bounded by the Black Sea to the north, the Caucasus to the northeast, the Iranian plateau to the southeast, the Mediterranean Sea to the south and the Aegean Sea to the west...
and Persia. Walls are covered in hand-made textiles like silk
brocadeBrocade is a class of richly decorative shuttle-woven fabrics, often made in colored silks and with or without gold and silver threads. The name, related to the same root as the word "broccoli", comes from Italian broccato meaning "embossed cloth," originally past participle of the verb broccare...
s via Siegert shops of Vienna.