The fascinating story of the Casino from Constanta city (Romania)
Hello there! You know I love contests so today I am going to participate for the first time on a contest hosted by @customnature which is called "Abandoned Shit Weekly Contest - Nr.15 - 'Freestyle!"
Click here if you want to join too >>
The Constanta Casino is considered to be one of the most beautiful abandoned buildings from the world.
The Constanta Casino is the emblem of the city, which appears on the seaside postcards.
A stately building that still emanates the air of its glory, the casino "watches" the Black Sea coast for over 130 years.
On a trip I recently made to Constanta I had the chance to photograph the abandoned casino.
It was designed by architect Daniel Renard in Art Nouveau style. The choice was probably influenced by how the other building looked in that period.
From the beginning, the construction went wrong. Because of the political change, the architect was replaced for a short while, by Petre Antonescu, a specialist who had a totally different vision. The fact is that the works lasted a long time, and the costs exceeded a few times the initial estimate.
The efforts to build the casino began in 1903, at the initiative of King Carol I, and cost about 1.3 million lei, an enormous amount at that time. The works are completed in 1910, when the official inauguration takes place.
In this place, love stories were born and tragedies occurred, fortunes were won or lost, and some even committed suicide by drowning in the sea. You couldn't entry into the casino if you hadn't fashionable clothes. In World War I, the Casino was used by the Red Cross as a hospital. In the Second World War, German troops stayed here. Moreover, the building suffered from the bombing.
The huge hall on the ground floor continued upstairs with a triple ladder. On the ground floor there were two casino rooms and a billiard room, and upstairs there was a hallway leading to a room where were hosted spectacles.
Neither bombs nor communism affected the Constanta Casino as the careless of authorities did. The last major repair of the Casino was made in the '80s. Now, after more than three decades, the building is in a difficult degradation. There are pieces of plaster on the facade, and tourists are advised by guards not to approach.
The casino from Constanta has a sad story. The massive structure proved to be too difficult to maintain and in 1990 the casino was closed. It will not be rehabilitated in the coming years due to bureaucracy. There have been many attempts at restoration, most of them remaining at the stage of intent.
The main threat to the Casino is the corrosion and rusting of structural metallic elements, especially those exposed to the weather. Wood elements are also severely affected by saline humidity. In addition, mold, moisture and cold and warm accelerates the degradation of all elements, from plaster to valuable decorative elements. Winds and storms have destroyed most of the window facades from the sea, allowing rain, snow and birds to penetrate in. All this degradation process leads to the collapse of the roof.
This monument, which should be the pride and attraction of the city, is in an advanced state of decay. Once the Romanian seaside pearl, the Constanta Casino degrades every day, without the authorities set up a rescue plan for the building. To avoid accidents and robbery, access to the interior is forbidden.
All photos are taken with my smartphone, Samsung Galaxy J5.
Love,
@allesia
By the way, I just read about a concert at the Casino building, on wednesday. They will open the doors of the abandoned building and SOS Conac will organize the event to rise awareness of the situation of this amazing place.
I'm glad they took the initiative to organize an event, it is a building that should be renovated. Cheers
si eu am participat la acest contest exact cu acceasi cladire simbolica..Cazinoul din Contanta si am castigat. Succes! PS..acum o luna si ceva!
Ma bucur sa aud asta, poate am si eu noroc :)
It's so old. When I see something like that, I find myself lost in history.
Looks like behind any old building, there is a history.
Maybe you will write the story of the abandoned house, I would love to read it. ;)
Once upon a time there was a beautiful ghost who lived in a haunted house... haha.. ;)
Haha. This is a short story, I want to read more :D
wao, a contest of abandoned things? who wins? the one that shows the most abandoned photo? hahaha if so I would win, hahaha. lately in Venezuela with the current government, everything is left in half and the money is stolen, so there are many things that have been halved. I'll see the rules of the game hahaha ... and despite the abandonment of the casino, it's nice. It does not look so deteriorated.
Hehe, thank you. It is a great contest, maybe you can join too :)
if you. and I read the instructions i'll see if it gives me time in the afternoon to take a Photo. it is up on Sunday. here is Saturday. always the contest is things abandoned each week? or each week is a different theme? but gives me chance today the ride on Tuesday, if remains of things abandoned.
In every week is a different theme, but you can take photos and if you do not have time to write the post, keep them for the next contest.
Yeah. that I will do. thank you very much friend.
Wow so cool, I'll have to put it on my lists of places to visit when I come to Romania this summer! Thanks for sharing!!
Oh, it is great, you will love it :)
Excellent post I really liked the story and it really is a beautiful structure, it's a shame that it has been forgotten. Regards :D
I appreciate your comment, thank you for visiting my blog. ;)
Romania is a very beautiful and amazing city, I also want to go there. If I meet you @allesia take me down the road.
Sure, I am waiting for you :)
A grand and historic building.
I like your nice photos 👍
Hopefully you can win in this contest @allesia
Thank you for your visit :D
Best wishes for you and your family, my dear!
Seems like the Casino is degrading noticeably every year. Looks in a even worse shape than the last time I saw it in reality.
Indeed, it is degrading more and more in time.
Such a pity that it will not be refurbished a bit, however one can say that its decay gives it a lot of charm too... Otherwise it would be just another casino :)
Yes, you are right, although the casino is a ruin has its charm. ;)