| Sinaia | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms  | ||
| State | Romania | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Muntenia | |
| Altitude | 767-860 m a.s.l. | |
| Inhabitants | 11.935 (2007) | |
| POSTAL CODE | 106100 | |
| Time zone | UTC 1 | |
Position
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| Institutional website | ||
Sinaia is a city of Muntenia.
To know
Geographical notes
Sinaia is located about 60 km north-west of Ploiești and 50 km south of Braşov, in a mountainous area in the Prahova River valley, just east of the Bucegi Mountains.
Background
The Prahova Valley was still uninhabited in the 17th century.
The first inhabitants to settle in the forest that covered the slopes of the Bucegi Mountains were the monks of the monastery of Sinaia, founded between 1690-1695 thanks to the donations of the Phanariot prince Mihai Cantacuzino. The city was named after the monastery and the monastery was named after that of St. Catherine on the Sinai Peninsula.
Even at the beginning of the 19th century the entire Prahova Valley included only three villages: Predeal, Posada and Podul Neagului.
On 5 August 1866 the prince (Domnitor) Carlo he visited the monastery of Sinaia, located at that time in the territory of the municipality of Podul Neagului and fell in love with the magnificent mountain landscapes. In 1872 the crown bought a 1,300 square kilometer estate near the Arsa Piatra River. On 22 August 1873, the first foundations of the Peleș Castle were laid which was inaugurated with an official court ball on 7 October 1883.
On 9 May 1880 Sinaia acquired the status of a municipality which included the hamlets of Izvor, Furnica and Poiana Țapului. In 1884, the hamlets of Predeal, Azuga, Bușteni and Poiana Țapului separated from Sinaia, forming the municipality of Predeal, while the municipality of Sinaia remained with the hamlets of Izvoru and Furnica.
At the end of the 19th century, Sinaia had a population of 2210 inhabitants, a mixed school attended by 103 students, hotels, a railway station on the line Ploiești-Brașov and a hydrotherapy clinic.
Also in that period the city was covered with timber factories. In January 1892 an iron nail factory was opened which had 45 employees, including Romanians and Germans.
In 1925 a hydroelectric power station was inaugurated which provided public lighting.
On the eve of the 2nd World War, Sinaia had 3,906 inhabitants.
After the forced abdication of King Michael I of Romania in 1947, the communist regime seized all royal assets, including the Peleș estate. Between 1975 and 1990 Nicolae Ceaușescu closed the entire area and the only people allowed on the property were maintenance workers and military personnel.
In 2006 the Romanian government announced the return of the castle to King Michael I of Romania. The actual return took place on February 20, 2007.
On 10 May 2016, on the occasion of the National Independence Day of Romania, which also marks the 150th anniversary of the Romanian dynasty, the personal banner of Princess Margaret of Romania was waved on the tallest mast of the castle for the first time since expulsion of the monarchy in 1947.
How to orient yourself
Sinaia: full screen map.Neighborhoods
Sinaia is divided into six districts:
- Centru - The neighborhood gathered around the Sinaia monastery and the Dimitrie Ghica park.
- Furnica - The north-western district built around the Peleș Castle.
- Tirul cu Porumbei - Neighborhood south of the center.
- Cumpătu - The northern district with many villas and hotels;
- Mefin - Southern district.
- Platoul Izvor Southernmost district dating back to the socialist period.
How to get
By plane
The nearest airport is that of Bucharest-Otopeni which is approximately 120 km from the city (about 2h).
By car
Sinaia can also be reached from both sides of the Prahovei Valley (Văii Prahovei) along the E60 or from Brașov if you are coming from the north or from Ploiești if you are coming from the South. From Bucharest take the highway 
until Ploiești, then merge onto E60.
On the train
- 1 Sinaia Station (Sinaia race). Station that has remained virtually unchanged since 1913, the year of its inauguration.
- Getting to Sinaia by train is easy as the city is on the main railway line that connects Bucharest to Brașov. All direct trains in Hungary pass through the Sinaia station, as well as those for Oradea, Braşov is Cluj-Napoca. There are also many trains to / from Sighișoara, Timisoara, Iaşi is Arad.
- Although this is one of the main railway lines in the country, trains are not very frequent: even during rush hour trains can depart from the Gara de Nord of Bucharest at intervals of over an hour.
By bus
Numerous long-distance buses serve the city, but the best option remains the train.
How to get around
What see
- 1 Sinaia Monastery (Mănăstirea Sinaia), Soarelui street 3, ☎ 40 244 314917.
about € 2 per person. The monastery is divided into two sections: the original building dating back to the 17th century (1690 -1695) and the modern building built in the 19th century (1842 - 1846). The relics kept in the religious museum are not very important except for a copy of the first bible printed in Romania and a collection of icons of saints. 
- Town Hall Building.
- 2 Peleş Castle (Castelul Peleș), Pelesului street 2, ☎ 40 244 310918, @[email protected].
Wed-Sun 9-17. castle built in Neo-Renaissance style between 1873 and 1914 
- 3 Pelisor Castle (Castelul Pelisor) (next to the castle of Peleş Castle).
- 4 Royal Guard Palace (Palatul Gărzii Regale). built at the same time as the Peleş Castle
- 5 Foișorul. built at the same time as Peleş Castle, which was destroyed after a disastrous fire, it was rebuilt in 1931.
- 6 Vila Luminiș. The villa was George Enescu's private residence between 1926 and 1946. Today it is a museum.
- 7 Casino of Sinaia (Cazinoul Sinaia). it was built in 1912 by the architect Petre Antonescu in the park Dimitrie Ghica. Today conference center.
- 8 Parcul Dimitrie Ghica. It was built in 1881 by the Swiss architect Eder.
- 9 Sinaia Railway Museum, Gării road.
about € 2 per person. The monastery is divided into two sections: the original building dating back to the 17th century (1690 -1695) and the modern building built in the 19th century (1842 - 1846). The relics kept in the religious museum are not very important except for a copy of the first bible printed in Romania and a collection of icons of saints.
Wed-Sun 9-17. castle built in Neo-Renaissance style between 1873 and 1914
Events and parties
- Sinaia For Ever. In September, three days full of cultural events. The last day there will be fireworks.
- International Classical Guitar Festival in Sinaia (Festivalul Internațional de Chitara Clasică din Sinaia). during the month of May. For a week Sinaia becomes the world capital of classical guitar welcoming musicians from all over the world.
What to do
In Sinaia it is possible to ski along the ski, cross-country or bobsled track. The city also has ski lifts. For information visit the site[link not working] of the company that manages the facilities (Ski on Sky Sinaia).
Shopping
- 1 Carpați Shopping Center. Modern shopping mall in the city center.
- 2 Funride Shop, Octavian Goga street, ☎ 40 733 669 339. Mon-Sun 11.30am-6pm. Sports shop: sells skis, snowboards and bikes and clothes.
- 3 Hermes Gallery, Carol I 41, ☎ 44 0727 642 760, @[email protected]. Mon-Thu: 9.30-20 Fri-Sat: 9.30-21 Sun: 9.30-15.30. Department store next to the train station
- 4 Ada Shop, Bd. Carol I, 8, ☎ 40 244 312 611. 9.00-18.00. Shop for both casual and technical clothes
- Markets
- 5 Piața Unirii. In the largest agricultural market in the city you can find all the seasonal fruits grown in Romania such as apples, grapes, peaches, potatoes and tomatoes. In the market there are also stalls serving ready-to-eat foods.
- 6 Piața Democrației. Near the station, it sells products of all kinds: from groceries to souvenirs.
- 7 Sinaia Monastery Market. Open all year both in the morning and in the afternoon. Handicraft market located at the gates of the Sinaia Monastery. In it you can find wood carvings, traditional costumes and much more.
- 8 Piața Peleș. Located near the castle of the same name, it sells handicrafts and souvenirs.
How to have fun
Night clubs
- 1 City Pride, Str. Carol I, n. 24, ☎ 40 0788 88 58 17.
- 2 Crazy Horse Sinaia, Strada Aleea Pelesului, n. 2A, ☎ 40 0244 31 55 95, 40 0788 67 95 79, fax: 40 0244 31 55 95.
- 3 Maxim Casino, Carol I n. 32, ☎ 40 0244 31 10 48, fax: 40 0244 31 10 66.
Where to eat
There are many bars and restaurants in the city center, but these are much more expensive than those located in other parts of the city.
Moderate prices
- Pizzeria "Casa Nostra". Great pizzas for 15 Lei (around € 4).
Where stay
Average prices
- Palace Hotel. This hotel was opened in 1901 and the atmosphere in it takes you back in time.
- Sinaia hotels, Bulevardul Carol I 8. Check in: 14:00, check-out: 12:00. Hotel and conference room in the city center.
Safety
- 2 Sinaia hospital, Spitalului street 2, ☎ 40 244 311 951.
- Pharmacies
- 3 Medimfarm Sinaia S.A., Bulevardul Carol I 22, ☎ 40 372 713 914.
- 4 Medimfarm Furnica S.A., Bd. Carol I, ☎ 40 372 713 914.
- 5 Gedeon Richter S.A., Cal. Moroieni, 22A, ☎ 40 244 310 166.
How to keep in touch
Post office
- 6 Central post office, bulevardul Ferdinand (in the north of the city).
Around
In the surroundings of Sinaia there are numerous mountains where it is possible to hike. Among the various mountains, the main one is Omu Peak 2.505 m a.s.l. which on the top has a restaurant and a weather station. The top can be reached thanks to two cable cars: with a change at 1400 m.
Important towns in the surrounding area are:
- Buşteni - 10 km north of Sinaia, important for the Cantacuzino palace (Palat Cantacuzino), the Caraiman monastery (Mănăstirea Caraiman) and the Sfinx românesc, natural rocky conformation reminiscent of the shape of a sphinx, reachable by cableway;
- Râșnov - 33 km away;
- Brașov - 50 km away;
