Two fortified mansions in Dolj county (known as “cula” in Romanian) will be restored under a EU-funded project run by the Dolj County Council, which has a value of RON 4.5 million (around EUR 1 million), reports local Agerpres.

After the restoration project is completed, the two fortified mansions, namely Cula Izvoranu-Geblescu in Brabova commune and Cula Cernatestilor in Cernatesti commune, will be included in the “Tradition and history in Dolj” tourist circuit.

Dolj County Council president Ion Prioteasa said that the funding project was approved within the Regional Operational Programme 2014-2020, and aims to strengthen, restore and equip the two fortified mansions so that they can be turned into small museums.

The term cula derives from the Turkish Kule, which means tower. This type of building is widespread in the Balkan peninsula, mainly in Serbia, Albania, and Bulgaria. In Romania, it can be found in Oltenia and Western Muntenia regions. Local nobles built the fortified houses, both as residences and to defend themselves against Ottoman and outlaws’ invasions.

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Irina Popescu, irina.popescu@romania-insider.com

(Photo source: Kule.ro)