| About Sinaia | FIAR in Sinaia | Sightseeing | Accommodation |
Located on a bank of the Prahova River, at the bottom of the Bucegi Mountains, in a spectacular landscape, Sinaia, also known as 'the jewel of Carpathians", is a vacation and tourism resort for all ages and all seasons. Winter sports - such as skiing, bob sleigh or sledge - on dedicated slopes for competition or just for fun, are among its major appeals. Sinaia is among the most visited resorts to recover or just to rest, because of its potential to cure and a highly ionized atmosphere and for its clean, ozone-rich air. The healing properties of its many sources of mineral water make also Sinaia a spa for therapy. Tourists have available updated cable transportation for easy access in the mountains or ski slopes: cable car, cable ride or ski cable.
Once the place to settle an old monastery in the 17th century,
Sinaia has witnessed major developments toward the end of the 19th century,
once the place has been slated as summer residence to the court of King
Carol I. At that time the Peles Castle has been erected and a railway
directly linking it to Bucarest has been built.
At the beginning of the 20th century Sinaia was perceived by many as
a "small
Versailles". The presence of the Royal Family, of its court and the many tourism amenities
made a strong magnet out of Sinaia, whose stable inhabitants amounted
to a little less than a third of those crossing it. Because of the Royal
Family, the Peles Castle was concentrating many of the political and
artistic celebrities of the time. Within the castle and in the Foisor
Palace and the Pelisor Palace prominent artists have performed and highly
significant political events in Romania's history took place.
General data
- Location:
on the national road DN1 or highway E60, 125 km far (some 120 minutes)
from Bucharest and 80 km (some 90 minutes) from the International
Airport in Otopeni (OTP).
- Altitude:
800 to 1000 meter high
- Weather:
sub - alpine
- Average temperature:
+15°C during summer and -4°C during winter months
- Usual weather during
May: chilly evenings and nights (7 - 12° C) and mild (18 - 25° C) during daytime (Weather in Sinaia now)
- Average thickness
of snow: 50 centimeters (as of January - February, at altitudes above 1500 m)
- You also have available:
- ATM access in a couple of places
- post office services just in the downtown area (working hours: 7:00 to 20:00 from Monday to Friday, and 10:00 to 12:00 Saturday), telephone cards included
- a supermarket in the Carpati general store, located on B-dul Carol I (working hours: 7:30 to 20:30 from Monday to Friday and 7:30 to 16:00 Saturday).
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FIAR in Sinaia
The Casino in Sinaia
Built in 1911 in the downtown park area
in Sinaia, the Casino is the architectural duplicate of the Casino in
Monte Carlo. Huge and exquisite halls that were accommodating in past
times 700 to 800 gamblers daily have been converted into a modern conference
center that has high performance technical equipment.
The inaugural address and the reception following take place usually
in the Hall of Mirrors. The International Conference Center usually hosts
also the conference in the first day of the forum.
The Foisor Palace
Initially built as part of a group of buildings serving
the Peles Castle and enlarged during the communist era with an additional
construction, the Foisor Palace stands, as far as the International Insurance
and Reinsurance Forum is concerned, as main location for bilateral meetings
and private seminars. A series of offices, halls and elegant living rooms
are available in this building, besides a movie - like larger hall. They
make all together ample space to be booked for your business appointments
or to be dedicated to your seminars or round tables to be shared by large
audiences.
Sightseeing spots
Do not miss the opportunity to visit:
The Peles Castle
Pelesului Street 2, telephone (+4-044) 31 21 84. Open hours: 9:00 to
17:00, except Monday and Tuesday.
Located on a green hill, bordered by the staggering landscape of the Carpathian Mountains, this magnificent castle seems like coming out of the Grimm Brothers' stories. Carol I, Romania's first king, has been marveled by the beauty of these places and, as of 1873, has inaugurated the construction works following the layout of German architect Wilhelm Doderer. While initial plans have been many times extended, only in 1914 the project reached completion. The castle is host to rich collections of European armory spanning the last five centuries, pictures, furniture items and art. Visitors have also the opportunity to admire a series of rooms decorated by artists from all over Europe, in a variety of styles, of which the German neo-renaissance prevails.
The Pelisor Castle
Pelisor Street 2, tel. (+4-044) 31 14 96. Open hours 9:30 to 17:00 daily,
except Monday.
Built during the first years of the 20th century for King Ferdinand and Queen Mary, the Pelisor Castle is the outcome of the work of Czech architect Karel Liman and Austrian decorator Bernhard Ludwig.
King Ferdinand, nephew of King Carol and son of Leopold von Hohenzollern, has come to Romania as of 1889. Three years later he married Princess Maria, daughter of the duke Alfred of Edinburgh and of Mary Alexandrovna, daughter of the Tsar Alexander the 3rd. After King Carol I death, as of 1914, Ferdinand became King of Romania. The most glorious time of his rule has been Romania's unification with Basarabia, Bucovina and Transylvania, in 1918, at the time the World War I came to its end.
The Pelisor Castle bears the imprint of Queen's Mary artistic personality, combining into a genuine mix Art - Nouveau, Byzanthine and Celtic influences. The Golden Bedroom, the Chapel and the Golden Living room are expressions of that artistic stance.
The Sinaia Monastery
Manastirii Street, telephone (+4-044) 31 49 17, from dawn to dusk, free
of charge
The main attraction in this monastery built in 1695, and whose name is a reminder of Mount Sinai, is the old church, decorated with 300 years old frescoes. The new church, built from 1842 to 1846 stands for the perfect exemplification of genuine Romanian, religion - inspired architecture. The furniture in sculpted golden oak is a piece of art in itself.
George Enescu' s Memorial House is where Romania's great violin player, composer and conductor lived. In this place has he received as a visitor and also as a trainee in violin, the later-on world-renowned violin player, Sir Yehudi Menuhin.
Accommodation
Hotel International ****
Strada Avram Iancu nr.1, tel.: +4/0244.313.851; +4/0244.313.852; +4/0244.313.853,
fax: +4/0244.313.855; +4/0244.310.470
e-mail: office@hotelinternational.ro
171 rooms (singles, doubles and 4 luxury
rooms).
The International Hotel is found in an uniquely beautiful place, built in 1983
as a sports resort hotel and has been reconditioned in 2001-2003 as a business
center and a relaxation place. The International Hotel offers ideal conditions
not only for relaxation but also for business activities.
Sinaia Hotel
***
B-dul Carol I 8, tel. (+4-0244) 31 15 51, tel./fax (+4-0244) 31 18 98,
e-mail: rezervari@hotelsinaia.ro
243 rooms (26 singles, 204 doubles, 9 triples, 4 luxury rooms).
Situated in the city center, the Sinaia Hotel, freshly renewed and modernized,
has spatious rooms with cable TV and comfortable and modern bathrooms.
The hotel has several restaurant rooms, discoteque, bar, swimming pool,
beauty saloons.
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Peles Castle

Foisor Palace

Conference Hall

FIAR TEAM
