1400AD-Present-Modern Era Europe Romania Monuments, landmarks

Sinaia Casino – Devil’s House

Sinaia Casino
Sinaia Casino has spectacular architecture and a fabulous story. The Casino and Palace Hotel nearby were built in 7 months only and are connected through a hidden underground passage closed for visiting.

Tourist Information

TypeBuilding, Former Casino Building, Landmark
Inauguration
Year
1913
Visiting HoursWednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Visiting Spaces: Foaier, Theater Hall, Baccara, Dimitrie Ghica, Nicolae Grigorescu, Ferdinand, Carol
Tour Hours: 10:30, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 15:30, 16:30
Tickets PriceFull Ticket: 20 RON (4 Euro)
Websitehttps://www.casino-sinaia.ro/ro/
LocationSinaia, Romania, Europe

Map

Pleasure trains

  • Once upon a time, the Sinaia Casino was frequented, on busy days, by 700-800 people brought from Bucharest with the so-called “pleasure trains”. After losing their money at various games, women put on their furs, luxury clothes, and jewelry.
  • Before entering the casino, players threw coins into the artesian well in front of the casino, for good luck.
  • The smaller hall, “la salle privée,” had only two tables at which the minimum stake was five times higher than in other halls.

Sinaia Casino Inauguration – Show, Enescu Festival, and fireworks

  • The inauguration of the Casino in 1913 was an extremely important event. The playwright Alexandru Davilla (then also the director of the Bucharest Theater) presented on the big stage of the Casino a high-profile show, attended by the royal family and Titu Maiorescu, then prime minister of the country. The memorable evening continued with a George Enescu concert and ended with fireworks.
  • News of the inauguration of the luxurious Casino in the summer residence of the Royal House of Romania spread rapidly throughout Europe. Two days after the inauguration, the Loebel brothers committed suicide after losing their entire fortune at the Casino. This news has increased the fame of the casino.

Devil’s House

  • Sinaia Casino has spectacular architecture and a fabulous story. It’s worth a visit with a guided tour.
  • The building is now used for conferences and private events
  • Sinaia Casino and Palace Hotel nearby were built in 7 months only and are connected through a hidden underground passage closed for visiting.
  • The list of shareholders included Eforia Civil Hospitals, Sinaia City Hall, French barons Edmond, Edgar, and Iv de Marcay – shareholders at the casinos in Nice and Monte Carlo, but also Romanian politicians and large landowners such as Gheorghe Grigore Cantacuzino – Nababul and Nicolae Lahovary.
  • In the interwar period, Sinaia Casino gained the reputation of “Devil’s House”.
  • After the Second World War, the Casino was closed, the space being used for some time by the Red Cross Society for humanitarian purposes.
  • Then he entered the administration of the Culture House of the Trade Unions from Sinaia. The building houses the city’s library, and various artistic circles and hosts numerous cultural events, including theater performances, folklore, and concerts.
  • The largest rooms are the Theater Hall, the Foyer, and the Hall of Mirrors (the largest hall). There is also Baccarat Hall and the Hall of Prince Dimitrie Ghica. There are also private cabinets and other protocol rooms, the Green Cabinet, Baron de Marcay Cabinet, and Regina Maria Cabinet. There is also Ferdinand Hall and Carol I Hall, where painting exhibitions are organized.

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About the author

Catalina

I am Catalina, and my passion for travel, mysteries, legends and archaeology drives me to explore the world and uncover its hidden wonders.