Sinaia

Sinaia is located on the slopes of the Bucegi Mountains – at an altitude of between 798 and 1055 meters above sea level. Around the city you can see the forested slopes of the mountains Furnica (“The Ant”), Zgârbura (“The Anthill”), Colții lui Barbeș (“Barbeș Fangs”) and Culmea Izvorului (“The Spring Peak”).
The city of Sinaia is named after Mount Sinai. The founder of the city, the septary Michael Cantacuzino, the brother of the ruler Şerban Cantacuzino, who made a journey to the Holy Land and visited Mount Sinai, built a monastery in memory of his journey and safe return in 1690 at the Monastery of Santa Catherine, and the city developed around the monastery.
The city attracts many tourists mainly because of the hiking opportunities around it and the winter sport, skiing, which is so popular in the area.
The main tourist attractions are: Peleș Castle, which served as the summer residence of King Carol I of Romania, Sinaia Monastery, the Gondola with its Alpine Sleigh and the local casino.
Sinaia Monastery – This is an Orthodox monastery, which many believe is one of the most beautiful in Europe. The monastery was founded in 1695 following a pilgrim’s visit to Mount Sinai and its monastery.
The monastery was modeled after the Monastery of Saint Catherine. In 1946, a large Orthodox church was built in a special Romanian style.