Press Release by Burgas Municipality – July 6, 2010

The Casino Transforms into a Cultural Center
“The Casino will be transformed into a multifunctional cultural center, managed and maintained by the Municipality of Burgas,” announced Mayor Dimitar Nikolov during the groundbreaking ceremony marking the beginning of the building’s restoration. The “Maritime Casino” Cultural Center will feature conference halls of various sizes and functions, hosting concerts, theatrical performances, exhibitions, recitals, and literary readings. The entire second floor will be dedicated to workshops and creative activities, available for both children and adults. From the highest part of the building, visitors will be able to observe the entire Burgas Bay using binoculars and telescopes.

For more than a decade, the Casino had been one of the biggest urban eyesores in Burgas. Its restoration is being funded under the project “Improvement of Cultural Infrastructure in Burgas Municipality”, with a total budget of 5,546,122 BGN, secured through the Operational Programme “Regional Development 2007–2013”. As part of this project, the Youth Cultural Center has already been renovated, and the “Snail” Open-Air Stage is also scheduled for reconstruction. The allocated budget for the Casino’s restoration is approximately 2.5 million BGN. Mayor Nikolov recalled that the original construction of the building in 1938 cost around 2 million BGN.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Deputy Mayors Krassimir Stoychev and Atanaska Nikolova, representatives of the municipal administration, Regional Governor Konstantin Grebenarov and his deputy Zlatina Dukova, Members of Parliament Ivan Valkov, Galina Mileva, and Ivan Alexiev, as well as municipal councilors from Burgas. Recently, the state authorities transferred the management of two other city landmarks to the Municipality of Burgas—the Pier and the historic core of the Sea Garden. Mayor Nikolov expressed his vision to restore all three sites, creating a harmonious and beautiful ensemble.

The honor of breaking the ceremonial champagne bottle at the groundbreaking event went to Ruska Boyadzhieva, the newly appointed director of the “European Integration” Directorate of Burgas Municipality. Following the ceremony, guests explored a photo exhibition showcasing images provided by local citizens, which were used by the architects in preparing the reconstruction project. Thanks to these historical references, the building will be restored as closely as possible to its original appearance. The exhibition will remain open on the terrace of the Sea Garden for two weeks.

THE MARITIME CASINO: A Symbol of Burgas’ Legacy
Historical archives highlight the proud past of the Maritime Casino. In early 1936, the Municipality of Burgas announced a competition for designing a casino in the Sea Garden. The initiative, launched by then-mayor Atanas Sirekov, attracted significant interest, with 17 projects submitted. However, the municipal council applied stringent selection criteria, concluding that none of the proposals fully met the requirements. As a result, no first prize was awarded, but architect Viktoria Angelova from Sofia received the second prize and 6,000 BGN for her project, titled “333”. The final design incorporated adjustments by local investors, adapting to the challenging slope of the terrain, making it an architectural marvel of its time. The total cost of the completed project amounted to 2,000,000 BGN.

The building is documented in the “Jubilee Book of Burgas”, written by Atanas Hristov and published in 1940, under the name “The Grand Casino”, listed as a municipal landmark.

The official inauguration of the Maritime Casino took place on August 7, 1938, in the presence of Burgas residents, distinguished guests from across the country, ministers, MPs, and other officials. In anticipation of the event, the Ministry of Transport granted a 70% discount on railway tickets to Burgas from August 5 onward, enabling people from all over Bulgaria to attend. The grand opening lasted an entire week, captured in multiple film and photographic records.

Simultaneously with the Casino’s construction, the entire pedestrian zone leading to the Burgas Pier was developed. Upon his arrival in the city, the Minister of Transport at the time, Nikolaev, walked from the entrance of the Sea Garden, past the Casino, and down the stairs leading to the seashore and the pier.

During this period, Burgas was known as a city of taverns and cafés, with many enterprising locals engaging in hospitality and tourism. As a port and commercial hub, the city hosted numerous diplomatic offices, attracting a diverse crowd of visitors. The Sea Garden, designed for relaxation and entertainment, quickly became a favorite gathering place for residents and tourists alike. On Sundays, entire families strolled along its paths, while during the summer, the gardens were bustling with people day and night. Visitors could enjoy views of ships maneuvering in the harbor, swimmers at the beach, and seagulls soaring over the waves.

The location of the Maritime Casino was carefully chosen—it offers a panoramic view of the entire Burgas Bay, and its distinctive architecture makes it visible from both the sea and the pier. Shortly after its opening, the Casino became one of the most beloved entertainment venues in the city.

Now, after decades of neglect, this historic landmark is being restored to its former glory, ensuring that future generations will continue to enjoy its cultural and architectural significance.