In both kingdoms, great importance is attached to pompous palace buildings and their luxurious furnishings. While in Dyonia one small castle after the other was built, the building activity in Pelaria concentrated mainly on extensions to the Perenz residence. Detailed architectural drawings complete the overall artwork of the palace worlds.
The time-honoured Pyrenz Castle with its extensive gardens was once the residence of the Dyonian kings. The oldest part dates back to the time of Henry VII. At that time it still had the character of a fortress, but it was modified according to the demands of each new monarch. The architects are unknown - after each brick came a new one.
The courtyard of honour is closed off by a colonnade with a guard gate. The whole is crowned by the figural group of the »Saint Swallowtail in his martyrdom, as abused by Amazons«. This is said to have happened in the 2nd century (according to the Centus calendar) at exactly that place. The inscription under the gable:
TIUK DE PE IS ALLA WACHN PE
is in Old Pezanese and means no more than, »Rejoice, the King is King for all time.«
The most recent alterations concern the gardens: the beautiful terrace staircase was laid out by King Henry XIV, but the garden was built by his daughter, the current reigning Queen Onide. She loves gardens more than anything, but as her own residence she built a new castle, called Eulenlust.
Perenz Castle is the extremely glamorous residence of the King of Pelaria, Talari II. While court life in Dyonia takes place in several castles, all the pomp and splendour in Plearia is concentrated in this one castle. The oldest part of the central building dates back to the reign of Queen Cecilia I.
Under the reigns of Kings Geonardi V, VI and VII, extensions, alterations and reconstructions were carried out according to the whims and fortunes of the respective monarchs. Building plans were changed many times, discarded, brought back and changed again, until even the court architect Johann Nichtsislaus von Binder lost track. Finally, to cheer up his king, he closed the courtyard of honour of the three-winged complex with a connection between the staircase and the banqueting hall: the curved gallery. The centre of the gallery is crowned by a tower-like open pavilion, to which a magnificent canopy gives the effect of a stage. Planned extensions (theatre and church wings) to create a new cour d'honneur have not yet been built due to royal financial constraints.
The staircase and the adjoining state flat as well as the banqueting hall and the hall with the court table are considered highlights of interior architecture on the vaunted island.
Queen Onide prefers to stay in Eulenlust Castle, the newly built residence of the Kingdom of Dyonia. Named after her favourite animal (the owl), it stands on a huge terrace with enough space for horse stables and everything that is economically necessary.
The castle houses two large picture galleries with a collection of over one hundred masterful works of art. Furthermore, there is an extensive library, two orangeries and the sculpture workshop of August Werner Neustötzer.
Flanking the main building are two column-framed "curiosities" with ancient mosaic floors and two pavilions, one for guests (King Talari III quite likes to linger here). Below is a consecrated room with the mantle of King Henry III, still from the Halma Stone Age. The other pavilion, on the other hand, houses a bath.
The castle itself is occupied up to the roof. In addition to the queen's ceremonial, residential and representative rooms, it also contains many rooms for courtiers and servants, including the royal wigmaker and hairdresser Taubennest. The court painter Hironimus Siebenhühner has his studio under the roof at the very top. Directly below, the court poet Bombastus der aus Igelshieb (he only loves his verses) is accommodated in the attic. He has a little room in each castle so that he can always be near the queen.
Three hours' walk from Perenz Palace, in the Musenhain meadow, the king built the palace in the park with the gondola pond and a theatre according to the plans of the court architect Johann Nichtsislaus von Binder. There is no such strict ceremonial here as in the residence. Only pages, beautifully liveried in blue silk, perform all the services in the palace, in the garden and as gondoliers – but they also get up to all kinds of mischief...
This gem of dyonic architecture comprises 18 rooms and was begun about 40 earth years ago under Queen Talarine, continued by Henry X, the very great.
The main staircase is outside. Small spiral staircases inside intimately connect the individual floors. This makes it easy to see into the side wings and to look from the garden area to the banqueting and garden hall. The architect and painter here is Hironimus Siebenhühner. Particularly noteworthy: the green dining hall with the painting of Diana in the Bath on the ceiling. Below, from left to right: the Queen's bedroom, drawing room and study. The knight Rigoros von Ritzentodt lives in an attic room. He is a genealogist, heraldist and expert on draughty windows and doors, inaccurate parquet flooring and crooked walls.
