The Constanța Casino ( ro, Cazinoul din Constanța) is a defunct

casino A casino is a facility for certain types of gambling. Casinos are often built near or combined with hotels, resorts, restaurants, retail shopping, cruise ships, and other tourist attractions. Some casinos are also known for hosting live enterta ...

, located in

Constanța Constanța (, ; ; rup, Custantsa; bg, Кюстенджа, Kyustendzha, or bg, Констанца, Konstantsa, label=none; el, Κωνστάντζα, Kōnstántza, or el, Κωνστάντια, Kōnstántia, label=none; tr, Köstence), histo ...

Romania Romania ( ; ro, România ) is a country located at the crossroads of Central, Eastern, and Southeastern Europe. It borders Bulgaria to the south, Ukraine to the north, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Moldova to the east, a ...

. It has been designated by the Romanian Ministry of Culture and National Patrimony as a

historic monument A monument is a type of structure that was explicitly created to commemorate a person or event, or which has become relevant to a social group as a part of their remembrance of historic times or cultural heritage, due to its artistic, his ...

. The casino is on the Constanța seafront along the

Black Sea The Black Sea is a marginal mediterranean sea of the Atlantic Ocean lying between Europe and Asia, east of the Balkans, south of the East European Plain, west of the Caucasus, and north of Anatolia. It is bounded by Bulgaria, Georgia, ...

in the historic ''Peninsulă'' District of the city. Three different buildings were built in the district to hold a casino, with the first structure being erected of wood in 1880. Considered a symbol of the city of Constanța, the current structure was built in

Art Nouveau Art Nouveau (; ) is an international style of art, architecture, and applied art, especially the decorative arts. The style is known by different names in different languages: in German, in Italian, in Catalan, and also known as the Moder ...

style, designed and built according to the plans of Daniel Renard and inaugurated in August 1910. The current Casino was used for gambling operations for 38 years, with interruption due to the two world wars: attacked and bombed by Bulgarian and German troops in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

, ravaged in

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great power ...

and, at one point, acted as a makeshift wartime hospital. In 1948 it was transformed into a

community centre Community centres, community centers, or community halls are public locations where members of a community tend to gather for group activities, social support, public information, and other purposes. They may sometimes be open for the whole co ...

and in 1960 it was handed to the National Office of Tourism which transformed into a restaurant. The last major repairs took place in 1986–1988, and the building was abandoned until 2019 and currently it's under renovation again. Mariana Iancu
"Fascinanta poveste a Cazinoului din Constanța"
''Adevărul'', March 16, 2015

History

''Cazin Kursaal'' (1880–1891)

The first version of the Constanța Casino was built of wood frame in 1880 and was named ''Cazin'' or ''Kursaal'' (“spa hall” in

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

). It was the first Romanian building to be built on the shore of the Black Sea shortly after

Northern Dobruja Northern Dobruja ( ro, Dobrogea de Nord or simply ; bg, Северна Добруджа, ''Severna Dobrudzha'') is the part of Dobruja within the borders of Romania. It lies between the lower Danube river and the Black Sea, bordered in the south ...

came under Romanian administration as a result of the

Russo-Turkish War (1877–1878) The Russo-Turkish War of 1877–1878 ( tr, 93 Harbi, lit=War of ’93, named for the year 1293 in the Islamic calendar; russian: Русско-турецкая война, Russko-turetskaya voyna, "Russian–Turkish war") was a conflict between th ...

and the

Romanian War of Independence The Romanian War of Independence is the name used in Romanian historiography to refer to the Russo-Turkish War (1877–78), following which Romania, fighting on the Russian side, gained independence from the Ottoman Empire. On , Romania and the R ...

. The building utilized slopes to create two rounded overlapping terraces with the purpose of providing a full view of the cliff, the sea and the Constanța harbor from all angles. It was situated adjacent to the

Genoese Lighthouse The Genoese Lighthouse ( ro, Farul Genovez) is a lighthouse and historic monument situated on the waterfront of the city of Constanța, RomaniaIon Creangă and father of Horia Creangă, the leading Romanian architect during the interwar period. Shortly after the building was transferred and administered by the County Council which opened it up for use. Finding that the building merely produced enough income to cover maintenance, it was again leased out to wealthy entrepreneurs. In 1891, the wood structured ''Cazinoul din Constanța'' was almost entirely destroyed by a storm and on January 29, 1892 its demolition was approved..

''Cazino'' (1893–1907)

The second version of the Casino was commissioned and built by the City of Constanţa at a nearby location and opened its doors in 1893. The building used a wooden structure and was placed near the current location of the Casino. It had a dance hall, several rooms but only one terrace to the sea. In May 1902, Captain Constantin Creangă petitioned the local mayor and city management to lease the building. He advertised himself as a chef, a skilled confectioner, and fluent in two commonly-spoken lingua franca of the time. He was successful and the building was transferred to his care for 2,000 lei a year, with the stipulation that he should "sell merchandise and products of only the finest and highest quality" and use "petroleum of the best quality on the property as to not produce any odor when burned" for light. The Romanian writer Petre Vulcan wrote about his impressions of the Casino: "At first sight we were attracted by the party pavilion, whose mammoth feet rise from the waves, with a wrapped porch pushed over the sea. From the interior music sprang, and cheerful couples dance

Boston Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the capital city, state capital and List of municipalities in Massachusetts, most populous city of the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financ ...

; from outside the lanterns hanging towards the sea dance enchantingly, under which noble ladies and lords converse intimately, vanishing into the sea of people before them, as in 'A Thousand and One Nights'."

Modern ''Cazinoul Comunal'' (1910-present)

Construction

In 1903, local politicians agreed that it was time for the city of Constanța to have a modern casino, "...like those which inspired the French Riviera". The Liberal government at the time immediately approved the project. The project was awarded to

Daniel Renard Daniel is a masculine given name and a surname of Hebrew origin. It means "God is my judge"Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 68. (cf. Gabriel—"God is my strength ...

, a Romanian architect of Swiss descent who lived in Constanța. Daniel Renard was 32 years of age and a graduate of the

École des Beaux-Arts École des Beaux-Arts (; ) refers to a number of influential art schools in France. The term is associated with the Beaux-Arts style in architecture and city planning that thrived in France and other countries during the late nineteenth centur ...

in Paris. His proposal to build an Art Nouveau structure stirred countless controversy, being supported by the Liberals in power but harshly criticized by the entire opposition. As the building's foundation was being cast, the politicians who appointed Renard were replaced. The construction was halted and Renard was quickly replaced with

Petre Antonescu Petre Antonescu (June 29, 1873 - April 22, 1965) was a Romanian architect. Over the course of a career that spanned the first half of the 20th century, he established himself as a leader in the field within his country, helping define a national ...

. Antonescu envisioned a theater-like building with two towers in the Neo-Romanian style and thus begins working on the new plans by pouring a second foundation. However, two years after Renard was removed the Liberal Party regained power in 1907. Renard was reappointed, resuming his project as he had envisioned from the beginning, in the

style. Renard had a third foundation laid. The works started for a third time in 1907 and was completed in 1910 with a total construction cost of 1.3 million lei, excluding other expenses such as furniture, fittings, architect's commission, etc. Each of the three foundations cost 70,000 lei, while the furniture itself cost approximately 90,000 lei according to Romanian art critic and researcher Doina Păuleanu. Historical documents also show that electricity was installed by the ''Sociertatea Anonimă de Gaz'' of Budapest and railings, gratings, and metalwork items were executed by the Wolf Factory in Bucharest. The asphalt on the outer sidewalk and the iron grating including three gates, were made by the M. Segal Company in Bucharest costing 19,000 lei. The city also purchased a piano from the Otto Harnisch Company in Bucharest and hired an orchestra of 18 people at a cost of 20,000 lei per season.

Inauguration and reception

The third and current version of the Casino was inaugurated on August 15, 1910, in the presence of Prince

Ferdinand Ferdinand is a Germanic name composed of the elements "protection", "peace" (PIE "to love, to make peace") or alternatively "journey, travel", Proto-Germanic , abstract noun from root "to fare, travel" (PIE , "to lead, pass over"), and "co ...

. Speeches were held paying homage to King

Carol I Carol I or Charles I of Romania (20 April 1839 – ), born Prince Karl of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, was the monarch of Romania from 1866 to his death in 1914, ruling as Prince (''Domnitor'') from 1866 to 1881, and as King from 1881 to 1914. He w ...

, Prime Minister Ion I. C. Brătianu, Minister of Public Works

Vasile Morțun Vasile G. Morțun (November 30, 1860 – July 20, 1919) was a Romanian politician, playwright and prose writer. Biography Origins, journalism and political beginnings Born in Roman, he came from a wealthy Moldavian ''boyar'' family, and was ...

, and a performance by the Davilla Theatre troupe and a celebratory grand ball took place for Constanța's elite. After the opening, on March 15, 1911, Mayor Titus Cănănău of Constanța leased the building for one-year to Alphonse Heitz, owner of the Café de Paris restaurant in Bucharest. Plowing through political opposition, on the same day the contract was awarded, the County Commission authorized gambling, equipping the Casino with two billiard tables and 17 gambling tables for card games. In a short time, the casino in Constanța became one of the most popular establishments of its kind in Europe. The building attracted both admiration and criticism. For example, the travel journal of French diplomat George Oudard in 1935 mentioned the following: "One thing which is disappointing in this welcoming place: the white casino, pretentiously complicated, of the most dreadful and horrific style of 1900, which burdens the sea coast." The casino did not escape the criticism of local media either, being characterized as a "Hulking heap strewn with all sorts of gewgaws and cheap fineries" by journalists in a March 1910 edition of the ''Conservatorul Constanței'' newspaper, while journalists of the publication ''Drapelul'' in a December 1911 editorial criticized mayor Titus Cănănău for not doing more "to squander time and resources as to hinder the monstrosity". Many of the decriers were against the asymmetric architecture of the building, the gaudy construction elements, and the architectural lines, albeit innovative, that made the building discordant in relation to Romanian

neoclassical architecture Neoclassical architecture is an architectural style produced by the Neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century in Italy and France. It became one of the most prominent architectural styles in the Western world. The prevailing sty ...

of the time. After a year, however, in 1912, the City of Constanța opened a bidding process for management of the Casino. A 20-year lease was awarded to Baron Edgar de Marcay, represented by attorney Nicolae P. Simonide from Bucharest. The Baron was the owner of the "Society of Great Establishments". As part of the lease agreement, the Society was obligated to construct a luxury hotel for the upper-class clientele of the Casino. The result was the Palace Hotel, inaugurated on July 13, 1914, with 250 rooms with baths, electrical lighting, heating, balconies, a world-class restaurant, and a roof-top terrace. French Architect E. P. Goue received the order for the hotel project on March 28, 1912. A restaurant annex was also built in 1912. By this time, some local newspapers have changed their tune of the structure. The luxury of the casino and world-class gambling attracted the wealthy from all over the world. The casino was visited by the Russian Imperial Family in 1914. The Casino hosted yearly parties kicking off the tourism and swimming season on the Romanian Riviera. The ''Sirena'' publication documented such a festivity stating, "On April 3, 1916, the Casino reopened to a fanfare of public amazement. The reopening presented this season as one of cleanliness and better taste than previous seasons with several upgrades being done to the terrace and billiard tables. As billiard was not available, the immense billiard room was transformed into a large consumption room for food and drink at this time. ''Barul American'' (The American Bar) also radically changed in appearance and comfort, introducing many luxurious updates and innovations that had you feeling as if you were in a great European City... In the Great Hall, Emilian Gheorghiu's orchestra drew public attention through the perfect execution of classic and modern art pieces, especially the use of the cellos. In the evening after drinks and supper, the auditorium was transformed into a cinematographic projection room where large audiences would gather to view cinematic pieces.". File:Ghidul Constantei si Tekirghiol.png, Interbellic Tourism Guide for Constanța and the Casino File:36230-original.jpg, View of lighthouse and Casino File:646x404pic2.jpg, Postcard of Casino with camel

First and Second World War

In the autumn of 1916, when the bombings of Constanța began during World War I by the Germans, the casino building was transformed into a hospital and used by the Red Cross. The nearby

Port of Constanța The Port of Constanța is located in Constanța, Romania, on the western coast of the Black Sea, from the Bosphorus Strait and from the Sulina Branch, through which the Danube, Danube river flows into the sea. It covers , of which is land and t ...

was the primary target of the Germans, but the close proximity of the Casino left it inevitably affected. Ten people were killed in the Casino when it was hit by shrapnel. Images of the bombings of the Constanța shore, including the casino itself, can be found in the Imperial War Museum of the United Kingdom (IWM). The casino became functional and reopened November 19, 1917. Repairs were finally completed by 1928. The casino was later completely restored between 1934–1937 by the initial architect Daniel Renard himself. During

the Casino became host to German troops invited into the country by the government in 1941; the Germans used the building for accommodation. Once again, the Casino was bombed in June 1941. The targets were the same as in the First World War but this time, the devastation was greater in the Peninsulă district of the city. The war left the Casino abandoned and ruined with Allied forces targeting the city and bombing the structure. The aftermath of World War II left the symbolic building surrounded by abandoned sentries and wired fencing. File:WindowsDoorsBombedCasinoWar.png, Windows and Doors destroyed in World War I File:Casino Doorway Damage.png, Damage to Casino Entryway File:627x0 (1).jpg, World War I Damage to Casino File:Mackensen in Constanta, Casino.png,

August von Mackensen Anton Ludwig Friedrich August von Mackensen (born Mackensen; 6 December 1849 – 8 November 1945), ennobled as "von Mackensen" in 1899, was a German field marshal. He commanded successfully during World War I of 1914–1918 and became one of th ...

with troops near the Casino boardwalk TrupeGermanesiBulgare (4).jpg, German and Bulgarian troops near the Casino boardwalk during World War I CazinoSpital.jpg, Casino turned into a wartime hospital

Casino in the communist era

After communism came to Romania, the post-war government decided to transform the casino into a

House of Culture Palace of Culture (russian: Дворец культуры, dvorets kultury, , ''wénhuà gōng'', german: Kulturpalast) or House of Culture (Polish: ''dom kultury'') is a common name ( generic term) for major club-houses ( community centres) in ...

. The casino was renovated by the government using political prisoners from the Poarta Albă camp, under deputy engineer Aurel Mărășescu. After year 2000, one of these labourers attempted to put together a list of prisoners that worked on the project and managed to remember 59 fellow prisoners, claiming there were 100 of them. He stated "We worked between 12 and 14 hours a day including Sundays. First time I was a bricklayer. Everything was destroyed in that building. There was nothing, no doors, no windows, no fixtures. It was a wreck... ". The prisoners reportedly slept in a seaside area, being the only place in the building where the sky wasn't visible. There was no heating available and they were at the mercy of the elements even resorting to eating animal organs, according to one of the prisoners. The project was the same every day. Work, gruelingly and endlessly and then sleep. At the end of July 1952, the building was reclaimed by the three colonels of the

Securitate The Securitate (, Romanian for ''security'') was the popular term for the Departamentul Securității Statului (Department of State Security), the secret police agency of the Socialist Republic of Romania. Previously, before the communist regi ...

who were responsible with supervising the prisoners and the project: Albon, Cozmici, and Crăciun. In 1956, the building was declared part of the national patrimony.

Modern era

Due to large operational expenses, the building has remained closed since 1990. The last major repairs of the building took place in 1988. Constanța City Hall tried to rehabilitate the building in 2006. In 2007, the casino was leased for 49 years to the Israeli "Queen" group. After numerous delays, local authorities took back the building more damaged than before its transfer to the Israeli company. January 2018, ''Europa Noastră'', with the support of the European Investment Bank Institute, as a founding partner, and the Council of Europe Development Bank as an associate partner, listed the Casino as one of 7 most endangered sites in Europe. In 2014, the edifice was transferred to the administration of the as a final rescue solution. An auction was held to award the contract for the execution of rehabilitation work in the casino, with 5 private companies signing up. All five firms were disqualified for not meeting the minimum qualification standards set by the government. A period of appeals and litigation followed, meanwhile the casino remained abandoned. 10 Million Euro were allocated to the rehabilitation of the Casino, but due to litigation and political frenzy, the money and Casino have remained untouched. The mayor of Constanța in 2018, Decebal Făgădau, announced that the City of Constanța would begin public works and conservation efforts. Finalization of the works were to occur on 14 November 2018, on Dobrogea Day, independent of the National Investment Company's auction date.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Constanta Casino Buildings and structures in Constanța Historic monuments in Constanța County Casinos in Romania Art Nouveau architecture in Romania Buildings and structures completed in 1910 Tourist attractions in Constanța County Abandoned buildings and structures Defunct casinos 7 Most Endangered Programme