The “cula” from Lupoaia, Gorj County
The “cula” from Lupoaia, Gorj County

Summary/Abstract: Since medieval times, in the area of Oltenia, several tower–dwellings were preserved, which remind, by their structure and construction system, of the Byzantine ones or of those from the Balkan world. They are called, by a term of Turkish origin, cula/ă (cule for plural = tower, turret).In Gorj County, there were quite a few cule, most of them on Gilort and Motru rivers valleys. Their placement and the construction site indicate their identity and functionality: watch–tower and signalling cule, refuge and defence cule, or dwellings. Such a request was also answered by the cula from Lupoaia, built by the members of Săvoiu family. It was built by Costache Săvoiu, called Surcel, towards the end of the eighteenth century and had, at first, the role of refuge and defense. Later, after stoves were built inside the cule, it began to be used as a permanent dwelling as well. The cula had a rectangular shape and three levels (one ground floor and two floors).

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