Culă
Romanian fortifications
title: "Culă" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["oltenia", "architecture-in-romania", "tower-houses", "house-styles"] description: "Romanian fortifications" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culă" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Romanian fortifications ::
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/36/Cula_Greceanu,_sat_Măldărești,_Vâlcea.jpg" caption="Vâlcea"] ::
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.
List of Cule
Argeș County
::data[format=table title=""]
| Name | Photograph | Location | Construction | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cula Racovița | [[File:Cula Racovita Mioveni Arges.jpg | center | frameless]] | Racovița, Mioveni |
| Cula Drugănescu | [[File:Cula Drugănescu 2024 - Fațada nordică.jpg | center | frameless]] | Retevoiești, Pietroșani |
| Cula Sultănica | [[File:Cula Sultănica (6).jpg | frameless]] | Șuici | 18th century |
| Ruined culă, Vlădești | Vlădești | 17th century | ||
| Ruins of Ioniță Brătianu's culă | Șuici | 1847 | ||
| :: |
Dolj County
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| Name | Photograph | Location | Construction | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cula Poenaru | Almăj | 1764 | ||
| Cula Izvoranu-Geblescu | Brabova | 18th century | ||
| Cula Cernăteștilor | Cernătești, Dolj | 18th century | ||
| :: |
Gorj County
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| Name | Photograph | Location | Construction | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cula Cartianu | [[File:Cula Cartianu.JPG | frameless]] | Cartiu, Turcinești | 1760 |
| Cula Cornoiu | [[File:Cula Cornoiu.JPG | frameless]] | Bumbești-Jiu | 18th century |
| Cula Crăsnaru | Groșerea, Aninoasa | 18th century | ||
| Cula I.C. Davani | [[File:RO GJ Cula I.C. Davani din Larga (1).jpg | frameless]] | Larga, Samarinești | 19th century |
| Cula Eftimie Nicolaescu | Runcurel, Mătăsari | 19th century | ||
| Cula Cioabă-Chintescu | Șiacu, Slivilești | 1762 | ||
| :: |
Mehedinți County
::data[format=table title=""]
| Name | Photograph | Location | Construction | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cula Cuțui | [[File:RO MH Cula Cutui (3).jpg | frameless]] | Broșteni | 1815 |
| Cula Tudor Vladimirescu | [[File:Cula Tudor Vladimirescu 3.JPG | frameless]] | Cerneți, Șimian | 1800 |
| Cula Nistor | [[File:RO MH Cula lui Nistor (1).JPG | center | frameless]] | Cerneți, Șimian |
| Ruins of cula Lazu | Lazu, Malovăț | 1850 | ||
| :: |
Olt County
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| Name | Photograph | Location | Construction | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cula Galița | Câmpu Mare, Dobroteasa | 1790-1800 | ||
| Cula Călețeanu | Piatra-Olt | 19th century | ||
| :: |
Teleorman County
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| Name | Photograph | Location | Construction | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costea's culă | [[File:Cula de la Frăsinet (2).jpg | frameless]] | Frăsinet | 18th century |
| :: |
Vâlcea County
::data[format=table title=""]
| Name | Photograph | Location | Construction | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cula Bujoreanu | [[File:Valcan-2-cula.jpg | frameless]] | Bujoreni | 18th century |
| Cula Duca | [[File:Cula Duca, Măldărești.jpg | center | frameless]] | Măldărești |
| Cula Greceanu | [[File:Cula Greceanu din Măldărești Vâlcea.jpg | center | frameless]] | Măldărești |
| :: |
References
;notes ;citations
References
- Mitrache, Anca. [https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?doi=ad18c53b6ac471bf44f3405feed71b8491d273ed&repid=rep1&type=pdf The Cula House – A Specific Case Study]. Published April 5, 2012.
- "Lista monumentelor istorice 2015 {{!}} Argeș". Institutul Național al Patrimoniului.
- "Lista monumentelor istorice 2015 {{!}} Dolj". Institutul Național al Patrimoniului.
- "Casa Cartianu".
- "Lista monumentelor istorice 2015 {{!}} Gorj". Institutul Național al Patrimoniului.
- "Lista monumentelor istorice 2015 {{!}} Mehedinți". Institutul Național al Patrimoniului.
- "Lista monumentelor istorice 2015 {{!}} Olt". Institutul Național al Patrimoniului.
- "Lista monumentelor istorice 2015 {{!}} Teleorman". Institutul Național al Patrimoniului.
- "Lista monumentelor istorice 2015 {{!}} Vâlcea". Institutul Național al Patrimoniului.
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