The Ministry of Culture is preparing the inclusion of the Peles and Pelisor Castles in the UNESCO World Heritage List, announced Minister Raluca Turcan on Facebook.

“We are preparing the inclusion of the Peleș and Pelișor Castles in the UNESCO World Heritage List. We had a first discussion at the headquarters of the Ministry of Culture with representatives of the National Institute of Heritage, the Peleș National Museum, and the Association of His Majesty’s House – The Royal House, with whom we have established a working group to fulfill the procedural requirements for inscription on Romania’s Indicative List for the UNESCO World Heritage List, from identifying the management and management capacity, to defining the exact perimeters, to fulfilling the conditions of authenticity and integrity, and the criteria regarding outstanding universal value. The Peleș and Pelișor Castles are not just historical, authentic, exceptional monuments, but also living destinations that reflect contemporary national identity. They function as museums, bringing history and culture to the forefront in an interactive and accessible manner. Furthermore, the Royal Residences in Sinaia impress with their beauty and architectural significance, representing a landmark for Eastern Europe. Their exceptional value deserves to be recognized by UNESCO through inclusion in the World Heritage List. I thank the representatives of the participating institutions for the discussions with whom we will have an active dialogue in the coming period. We will also initiate collaborations with other institutions directly or indirectly involved in the Royal Domain of Sinaia to ensure the necessary quality standards for inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List,” the message published by Raluca Turcan states.

About Peles Castle

According to the official website of the institution, the Peles Castle was built by the first King of Romania, Carol I of Hohenzollern – Sigmaringen, between 1873 and 1914. By 1883, the year of its inauguration, it was used as a summer residence. Between 1890 and 1914, under the supervision of the Czech architect Karel Liman, considered the main architect, the castle was transformed and enlarged. Decoration: in the first phase (1883), both the exterior and interior stylistic dominance is provided by the German neo-Renaissance style with two exceptions, the neo-Ottoman and the neo-Rococo styles. In the second stage (1890-1914), fundamental changes to the volumes, façades, and interiors enriched the previous stylistic range, adapting the castle to the stylistic pluralism of Historicism.

About Pelisor Castle

The Pelisor Castle is part of the vast architectural ensemble created by King Carol I, along the Peleș river’s valley, during the entire period of his reign. It was built between 1899 and 1902, as a residence for the Royal Heirs to the throne of Romania, Prince Ferdinand and Princess Marie. As opposed to the solemnity of the Great Castle, the Pelișor Castle, although on the exterior one can easily recognize the German Neo-Renaissance style, is decorated in a new, modern style.

Romania at UNESCO

According to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Romania has 9 entries (7 cultural and 2 natural) inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List:

Churches of Moldavia (1993, 2010): Arbore Church, Humor Monastery Church, Moldovița Monastery Church, Pătrăuți Church, Suceava Monastery Church, Voroneț Monastery Church, Sucevița Monastery Church, and Probota Monastery Church.
Hurezi Monastery, the Village of Romani de Jos, belonging to the town of Horezu, Vâlcea County (1993)
Villages with Fortified Churches in Transylvania (1993, 1999): Câlnic, Prejmer, Viscri, Dârjiu, Saschiz, Biertan, and Valea Viilor.
Dacian Fortresses of the Orăștie Mountains (1999): Sarmizegetusa Regia – Grădiștea de Munte, Costești Dacian Fortress Cetățuia, Costești Blidaru Dacian Fortress, Luncani-Piatra Roșie Dacian Fortress, Bănița Dacian Fortress, Căpâlna Dacian Fortress.
Historic Center of Sighișoara (year of inscription 1999)
Wooden Churches of Maramureș (year of inscription 1999): Bârsana, Budești, Desești, Ieud-Deal, Plopiș, Poienile Iziei, Rogoz, Surdești.
Roșia Montană Mining Cultural Landscape (year of inscription 2021)
Danube Delta (1991)
Ancient and Primeval Beech Forests of the Carpathians and Other Regions of Europe – transboundary property in 12 countries (year of inscription of Romanian forests: 2017)

In the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Romania is represented by 7 elements:

Căluș Ritual (since 2008)
Doina (2009)
Horezu Ceramics Craftsmanship (2012)
Male Group Caroling (2013), multinational inscription with the Republic of Moldova
Fecioresc Dance (2015)
Traditional Techniques of Bark Weaving (2016), multinational inscription with the Republic of Moldova
Cultural Practices associated with March 1st (2017) – Mărțișor, multinational inscription with the Republic of Moldova, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia.

The most recent dossier accepted by UNESCO, in March 2021, for examination, with a view to inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, is the Shirt with “Altita” Embroidery – an element of cultural identity in Romania and the Republic of Moldova.

The UNESCO World Heritage List

According to UNESCO procedures, Romania has drawn up and submitted to the UNESCO World Heritage Centre a list of proposals (indicative) of goods and places that could be proposed for inscription on the World Heritage List. Indicative lists are periodically updated by UNESCO member states.

The evaluations of the proposed inscriptions are carried out by the consultative bodies of the World Heritage Centre, including the International Council on Monuments and Sites ICOMOS and the International Union for Conservation of Nature IUCN.

The management of the nomination dossiers is carried out by the National Institute of Heritage, a public institution of national importance, under the subordination of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage.

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