An emblem of the city – Casino Sinaia, can’t go unnoticed. Situated in Dimitrie Ghica Park, the Casino was built on the site of the former residence of…
D. Ghica, which had been the first villa in the resort. The construction was built between 1912 and 1913 and had as main shareholder Baron de Marçay (also shareholder of the Monte Carlo Casino ) together with Eforia of Civil Hospitals and the City Hall.
About its inauguration in 1913 lots of ink was wasted in all the newspapers. It was at the event of inauguration, the only time that King Carol I crossed the threshold, personally disapproving of the game of luck. In the applause of the invited personalities, the royal family and Titu Maiorescu – George Enescu was invited to play on the stage of the theater in the Casino, and the evening ended with spectacular fireworks. From then, until 1947, when Communism banned games of this kind – the Casino’s activity was intermittent due to the two world wars when it became a refugee and wounded center.
The apogee was reached in the 30’s when the trains coming from Bucharest arrived on Saturdays and Sundays at 4 o’clock in the afternoon in Sinaia train station and were leaving after 10 o’clock at night, enough time for the 600-800 daily visitors to lose their fortune at the tables, enjoy the coffees at the on-site bar-restaurant or socialize. Men sold their watches and women – fur and jewelry to pay off their debts. The main games were roulette, rummy, chess, table and goalie, and the card game (baccarat, brazilian) was customary. After ten o’clock in the evening, only those who were able to accommodate in the city or the very rich ones playing in private rooms remained. Some of them usually left the Casino building towards Palace Hotel through an underground tunnel at the early hours of the morning.
After its years of glory, the space homed Sinaia Trade Unions Culture, Library and since 1978 the space has been designed for protocol activities, after a renovation completed by the same architect who rebuilt the Peles Palace. Nicolae Ceausescu and Elena chose two generous chambers, namely the Green Cabinet and the Baron de Marcay’s Cabinet that had once been private game rooms and turned them into Cabinet 1 and Cabinet 2, both of which can be visited. After the 90’s, the building passes into the State Protocol Administration, and outside the guided visits, events can be organized here (weddings, conferences, corporate events, symposiums). Tickets are purchased from the entrance on the right side of the Casino, from the park, and the visit starts at the stairs to the main entrance to the building foyer. There, a century ago, guests were welcomed with champagne to enter the Mirror Room to play. Having 650 sqm, the hall had initially 13 tables of roulette, then 20 pieces. The mirrors were meant to help supervise the croupier and player. One also visits the Theater Hall with a capacity of 400 seats, the curtain of which was paid out of the personal money of the architect who renovated the Casino in the 70’s. The Baccara Hall is an oval room with generous windows covered with green drapes with chandeliers crystal and two fireplaces.
The fate of the Casino’s furniture was somehow tragic. If the game tables could be saved, the furniture served as firewood for Greek refugees, including the parquet.
The tour ends in the Royal Gallery, a former place for luxury shops, warehouses, wine cellars or garages. Today the city hall organizes painting or art exhibitions. We enjoyed the paintings of two of the painters who exhibited their works: Augustin Costinescu and Andrei Damo.
Although there is a partial sightseeing tour, I recommend you choose the full tour. The guide explains the stories of the Casino in a very beautiful way, gives everyone time, answers all the questions in a promptly.
Program for the complete guided tour (includes the Casino & Royal Gallery): 10:20; 11:50; 13:20; 14:50; 16:20. Ticket price: 15 lei.
For more things to do or see, one can find less known places in Sinaia.
The partial tour includes only the Royal Gallery. Ticket price: 5 lei.
Visiting hours: W-S, 10-18.
More details: Casino Sinaia.