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]

Cula Greceanu from Măldărești, Vâlcea

List of Cule

Argeș County

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

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

Name	Photograph	Location	Construction	Source
Cula Cornoiu		Bumbești-Jiu	18th century	[4]
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

Name	Photograph	Location	Construction	Source
Cula Cuțui		Broșteni	1815	[5]
Cula Tudor Vladimirescu		Cerneți, Șimian	1800
Cula Nistor		Cerneți, Șimian	1812
Ruins of cula Lazu		Lazu, Malovăț	1850

Olt County

Name	Photograph	Location	Construction	Source
Cula Galița		Câmpu Mare, Dobroteasa	1790-1800	[6]
Cula Călețeanu		Piatra-Olt	19th century

Teleorman County

Name	Photograph	Location	Construction	Source
Costea's culă		Frăsinet	18th century[c]	[7]

Vâlcea County

Name	Photograph	Location	Construction	Source
Cula Bujoreanu		Bujoreni	18th century	[8]
Cula Duca		Măldărești	1827
Cula Greceanu		Măldărești	18th century[d]