The Casino of Roșia Montană

The building intended for cultural events was built by Bartha Miklos in 1886 and represents a particular type of construction, being a private property for public use. This building is characterized by a functional and typological design specific to urban areas, being initially intended as a casino, with two rooms for gambling and other spaces for related services, as well as for public events, concerts, theater performances, or film screenings. 

The exterior of the building presents distinct aspects between the facades facing the public space and those facing the courtyard. The facade facing the courtyard has a predominantly rural character, while the other three facades visible from the public space are decorated, with elements such as frames, masks, modillions, profiled cornices, coats of arms, and decorations shaped like shells at the bottom of the windows. Of course, Rosia Montana was proud of this architectural gem as a place of celebration, but it was also a place where miners lost their small savings, in gambling or drinking. 

The gold diggers stood out distinctly from the other inhabitants. Their life was full of adventure and contrasts, given the dangerous nature of their work. They were attracted to parties, being their only way of entertainment when not working. Their conversations always revolved around the same theme: gold. They shared all their dramatic, captivating, and humorous stories and legends. Among the most appreciated were the legends about the "mine spirit - vâlva băii," which were even used by mothers to put their children to sleep.

Although a miner's life was not without dangers, and finding gold was never easy, gold was the main subject of their discussions, being sought not only in depths but also in gestures, words, signs, and intrigues sown especially in Rosia’s taverns. Tavern keepers played an important role in social life, being essential guides to the flow of gold and each miner. They knew everything about the quantity of gold and especially about the places where gold was found. They knew all this by asking and encouraging miners with a drink to say more about where gold rich places were found. The "holongări" or illegal miners were also present in this chain of events.

About the "holongări," the mining engineer Valentin Rus tells us that: “Many engaged in illegal mining. In the afternoons and nights, on holidays, when there was no work in the mine, groups of holongări roamed the galleries stealing gold. After learning about the existence of gold (over a "drink," through taverns), they appeared in those places, and after quickly "pinching" the vein, they disappeared without a trace.

The Holongari entered and exited the mine through the most dangerous openings on the surface and underground. Once they reached the working front, in a very short time, they cut with a pickaxe, a chisel and a hammer the gold-bearing vein, after which they quickly took the gold and ran away so as not to be caught."

You have listened to the content dedicated to Rosia Montana’s Casino.

The UNESCO tour of Rosia Montana is a project implemented by the non-governmental organization ‘Rosia Montana in Patrimoniul Mondial’. The audio-tour is co-financed by Romania’s Administration for National Cultural Funds. We based our story telling on local anecdotes and the works listed on the bibliography on our website. We encourage you to follow the trail that we prepared for you via our website. This will ensure that you discover all objects and their stories of Rosia Montana. Have a pleasant journey and ‘drum bun’ as we say here.