Going to Constanta definitely means making a photo with the old Casino. This deserted building has become the symbol of the coastal town. Not only because of its location next to the sea and the great view but it also attracts with its vintage glamorous style. The Casino seems like it had been a part of a movie shot in the so called Jazz Age or the time of the Great Gatsby.
However, you can’t go inside and look through its secrets as it is closed from almost 30 years. Broken windows, ruining walls, creaking sounds….no this is not the scenario of a scary movie. If you go more closely at night you might see ghosts playing cards and gambling. Joking! Although it would be great!
But why this building was abandoned and from a beauty turned into a hag ? My curiosity led me to some interesting facts.
The Constanta Casino was opened in August 1910 and it hosted many celebrities and royalties (The Russian Imperial Family in 1914) until its closing in 1990. The initiative for building this great place was of the Romanian King Carol I.
You might find some similarity in the design of the building with other casinos in Monaco. The creator was the Romanian architect Petre Antonescu who preferred the so called Art Nouveau style.
The Constanta Casino had seen lots of joy, laughing and dancing in its best years. Many love stories to share and many lucky and not so lucky players to recall. But the future of this “wealthy lady” was not so bright.
The building survived during the Second World War and it was transformed into a hospital at that time. Afterwards it became a restaurant but a few years later it was closed due to lack of money to maintain it.
Although the Constanta Casino was defined as a historical monument by the Romanian Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs it seems that nothing has been done for renovating this place since the last major repairs were made in 1988. The positive thing is that there are some rumors about some plans for restoring the symbol of the elite and prosperity of the town.
Entrance fee: not allowed (only by a special request to the local municipality)
Estimated time to spend: 10-15 mins
Location: Bulevardul Regina Elisabeta 15, Constanța 900178, Romania
Type: Monuments & Historical Buildings
Curious facts: The Constanta Casino was one of the filming locations of the comedy The Brothers Bloom (2008).
