During a trip to Romania, I had the chance to shoot the abandoned casino in Constanta. As a pearl watching over the Black Sea, where wealthy travelers and the elite flocked from all over Europe to play and dance all night in what used to be the most magnificent building of the country.
I hope my photographs will give you a glimpse of what the atmosphere was like back in time!
UPDATE! I learned that the casino was renovated, and it is opened again.
More info: romainveillon.com
Constanța Casino.
As Romania’s most important port city, Constanța is situated at the crossroads of the East and West. It boasts a unique heritage: its casino, which was one of the most famous in the world in the early 20th century. Like a sentinel proudly standing over the Black Sea, Constanța Casino seems frozen in time. Today, only the chandeliers that remain suspended in the former gaming rooms serve as a reminder of its glorious past.
Commissioned by King Carol I and designed by architects Petre Antonescu and Daniel Renard, Constanța Casino was built between 1905 and 1910 in the purest “Art Nouveau” style. The facade is adorned with a large bay window in the shape of a scallop shell, which became the city’s emblem. It was inaugurated by Prince Ferdinand in the presence of Europe’s elite and nobility.
Everyone rushed to discover this architectural gem. They came to play, dance, drink, have fun, and show off in Constanța Casino. Numerous frescoes, baroque paintings, stuccoes, and stained glass windows are still there, showing the luxury that once was. Its reputation grew, and it became the equivalent of the French Riviera in the East. But this grandeur didn’t last long.
Both World Wars plunged Europe into dark times and drained Romania’s economy. After serving as a hospital during World War I, the casino was occupied by the German army during World War II and suffered heavy damage from bombings. Under Soviet occupation in 1947, the casino became a cultural house promoting the benefits of communism. Then, in 1956, the casino was nationalized and reopened to the public. After renovation, the casino reopened as a restaurant and gaming hall, but the elite never returned. By the early 90s, the manager gave up. The walls quickly deteriorated, and the place became dangerous.
After renovation
Despite its glorious past, all of its renovation projects fell through—until 2020, when renovation finally began, and scaffolding was placed on the exterior. I hope this time the efforts will be completed, restoring its former splendor!
