Vernescu House (Casa Vernescu) is a historical monument on Victory Avenue in Bucharest. The building currently houses a casino,
The house was built in a French eclectic style between 1820 and 1821 and belonged to the nobleman Filip Lenș. The house was a wedding gift to his wife Lisaveta Balotescu-Carpinisanu, but a fire destroyed it in 1822. It was quickly rebuilt and became known as one of the most beautiful buildings in the city at that time.
After the owner’s death, over time the building housed several military institutions, including a military school and the Ministry of War. The building was again destroyed by a fire in 1882, after which it was purchased by the politician Gheorghe Dimitrie Vernescu who gave the house its name in 1886.
With the help of the famous architect Ion Mincu, a restoration took place between 1887 and 1889 to transform the building into an impressive palace. At this time, George Demetrescu Mirea also added paintings, gilded decorations, stained glass, and massive mirrors.
Vernesco had to sell the house for financial reasons after which it became a government building for a while. During World War II it was occupied by the Red Army and under the communist regime it served as a protocol house for several ministries.
In 1990, the house was handed over to the Romanian Writers’ Union. In 1993 the Vernescu House was restored and modernized and a 5-star restaurant opened on its ground floor. Since 1995, the Casino Palace operates in the building.
