The World’s First Castle Fully Powered by Electricity…

… Narrates 150 years of history and innovation in Romania in general, and Sinaia in particular

Peleș Castle in Sinaia is an architectural masterpiece [Photo: ©Vickey Maverick]

Sometimes an activity as leisurely as taking an afternoon stroll can also help improve your historical awareness. I have stumbled upon hitherto unknown information many times. More recently, a walk in the Parcul Dimitrie Ghica din Sinaia, or the Dimitrie Ghica Park in Sinaia (Romania), indeed became a crash course in history for me.

This expansive park, established in 1881 as a social hub for the elite, represents an interesting combination of a unique natural setting interspersed with references from history. To be honest, there are quite a few of these references in and around its premises, some of which I will be explaining in this narrative.

While the lush surroundings showcase some exotic plant species, meticulously selected by botanist Ulrich Hoffman, the park also prominently displays busts of eminent figures in Romanian history such as writer Ion Creangă (1837–1889), poet Mihai Eminescu (1850–1889), the multi-faceted Nicolae Bălcescu (1819–1852), and, of course, Dimitrie Ghica (1816–1897), a prominent politician who established the park.