Culă

A culă (plural: cule; from Turkish kule "tower, turret") is a type of semi-fortified dwelling historically found in the Oltenia region of Romania, with notable examples also in Muntenia (in the counties of Argeș and Teleorman). Constructed primarily between the 17th and 19th centuries, these structures served as residences for the boyar aristocracy, offering protection against invasions and local uprisings. Architecturally, cule are characterized by their tower-like appearance, typically featuring multiple levels, thick walls, and defensive elements such as narrow windows or loopholes for archers. The design reflects a blend of domestic comfort and military functionality, embodying the capacity of traditional Romanian architecture to assimilate foreign influences while remaining distinctively local. Similar tower houses are prevalent throughout the Balkans, including in Serbia and Albania.[1]
List of Cule
[edit]Argeș County
[edit]Name | Photograph | Location | Construction | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cula Racovița | ![]() |
Racovița, Mioveni | 1797 | [2] |
Cula Drugănescu | ![]() |
Retevoiești, Pietroșani | 1822 | |
Cula Sultănica | ![]() |
Șuici | 18th century | |
Ruined culă, Vlădești | Vlădești | 17th century | ||
Ruins of Ioniță Brătianu's culă | Șuici | 1847 |
Dolj County
[edit]Name | Photograph | Location | Construction | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cula Poenaru | Almăj | 1764[a] | [3] | |
Cula Izvoranu-Geblescu | Brabova | 18th century | ||
Cula Cernăteștilor | Cernătești, Dolj | 18th century |
Gorj County
[edit]Name | Photograph | Location | Construction | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cula Cartianu | Cartiu, Turcinești | 1760[4] | [5] | |
Cula Cornoiu | Bumbești-Jiu | 18th century | ||
Cula Crăsnaru | Groșerea, Aninoasa | 18th century | ||
Cula I.C. Davani | ![]() |
Larga, Samarinești | 19th century | |
Cula Eftimie Nicolaescu | Runcurel, Mătăsari | 19th century | ||
Cula Cioabă-Chintescu | Șiacu, Slivilești | 1762[b] |
Mehedinți County
[edit]Name | Photograph | Location | Construction | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cula Cuțui | Broșteni | 1815 | [6] | |
Cula Tudor Vladimirescu | Cerneți, Șimian | 1800 | ||
Cula Nistor | Cerneți, Șimian | 1812 | ||
Ruins of cula Lazu | Lazu, Malovăț | 1850 |
Olt County
[edit]Name | Photograph | Location | Construction | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cula Galița | Câmpu Mare, Dobroteasa | 1790-1800 | [7] | |
Cula Călețeanu | Piatra-Olt | 19th century |
Teleorman County
[edit]Name | Photograph | Location | Construction | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
Costea's culă | ![]() |
Frăsinet | 18th century[c] | [8] |
Vâlcea County
[edit]Name | Photograph | Location | Construction | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cula Bujoreanu | ![]() |
Bujoreni | 18th century | [9] |
Cula Duca | ![]() |
Măldărești | 1827 | |
Cula Greceanu | ![]() |
Măldărești | 18th century[d] |
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- notes
- citations
- ^ Mitrache, Anca. The Cula House – A Specific Case Study. Published April 5, 2012.
- ^ "Lista monumentelor istorice 2015 | Argeș" (PDF). www.cultura.ro (in Romanian). Institutul Național al Patrimoniului.
- ^ "Lista monumentelor istorice 2015 | Dolj" (PDF). www.cultura.ro (in Romanian). Institutul Național al Patrimoniului.
- ^ "Casa Cartianu". dilemaveche.ro (in Romanian). Archived from the original on 2011-11-03. Retrieved 2011-11-18.
- ^ "Lista monumentelor istorice 2015 | Gorj" (PDF). www.cultura.ro (in Romanian). Institutul Național al Patrimoniului. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-03-20. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
- ^ "Lista monumentelor istorice 2015 | Mehedinți" (PDF). www.cultura.ro (in Romanian). Institutul Național al Patrimoniului.
- ^ "Lista monumentelor istorice 2015 | Olt" (PDF). www.cultura.ro (in Romanian). Institutul Național al Patrimoniului.
- ^ "Lista monumentelor istorice 2015 | Teleorman" (PDF). www.cultura.ro (in Romanian). Institutul Național al Patrimoniului. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
- ^ "Lista monumentelor istorice 2015 | Vâlcea" (PDF). www.cultura.ro (in Romanian). Institutul Național al Patrimoniului.
External links
[edit]- "Romania's old kulas". www.kule.ro. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016.