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- Targoviste – A Capital’s CharmDrobeta Turnu Severin – A Bridge Across The AgesSearching For Tranquility Around BucharestCalimanesti, Olanesti, Govora – Oltenia’s Health SpringsAlba Iulia and Codex AureusIasi – A City Imbued With History and CultureThe Deva Fortress – Active Witness to Transylvania’s HistoryRupea Stronghold, The Core of Brasov CountyScarisoara Cave, Glacier Chill in Summer TimeMuierilor Cave, Symbol of Fertility and HolinessOrsova – Heavy Industry Meets the Roman EmpireThe Heaven of Cherry Orchards, in CetateleCurtisoara Museum – a Cradle of SpiritualityBaile Felix – a Balneary Resort for All AgesIzei Valley – Maramures Finest Traditions and LocationsHarman – A Small Part of Brasov’s CultureMuseums and places to visit in OradeaVidraru Dam and Lake, a Wonder of Nature, Confined by ManAncient Cities in the Constanta AreaSfantul Ioan Domnesc Monument-Church – The Shadow of Stefan cel MarePutna Monastery – The Spiritual Center of MoldaviaOcnele Mari: Salt Mines, Spa and Rich HistoryBaile Govora – One of The Oldest Romanian SpasCraiova – The Heart of OlteniaRules for Visiting the Protected Nature AreasArad – One Millenia on the Banks of MuresTargu Jiu and the Endless ColumnBucura Lake – The Largest Glacier Lake in RomaniaTraveling to Sfantu GheorgheLipscani – “The Old Leipzig” of BucharestCule – Strange Strongholds of a Riotous PastVatra DorneiCluj NapocaDobrudja and the Danube DeltaBucharest – an european capitalBrasov – Part of the “Heart” of RomaniaTimisoara, Little ViennaRosia MontanaPeriam “Rock la Mures” FestSinaiaVama VecheSighisoara, medieval heavenHunedoaraSighisoaraSibiu – modernity with a German touchA visit in Piatra-NeamtVama Veche versus MamaiaThe mountain tourism in RomaniaA trip to Muntii ApuseniAn incursion in legends – BranTrips and winter sports on Valea PrahoveiTransilvania – The medieval land of StrongholdsBucovina and Northern MoldaviaMaramures – A Land From TalesTan and Fun at the Black SeaA wild land – The Danube Delta
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Cule – Strange Strongholds of a Riotous Past
The "cule" were a special type of “fortified houses” that was very popular in the past centuries, especially in the southern part of Romania. This kind of architecture spread a lot in the 18th and 19th century because of the Turks often raids at the Danube border; coming from their barracks based in Bulgaria – as the Ottoman Empire had conquered the Bulgarian lands in the second half on the 14th century and it remained there for nearly five centuries – the Turks used to rob and destroy everything in their way, so rich people in the area – we refer at landlords (boyars) – had to come up with something to protect at least their family lives.
As you can guess these “cule” were a special type of strong houses, like a fortress or a tower, fitted with very thick walls (often up to 1 meter thick), narrow windows (especially on the ground floor), wooden inner staircase and a square surface – they had been designed to resist. The etymology of the word comes from the Turkish word “kule” which means “tower” and these “cule’ were common in the Balkan Peninsula, in countries like Serbia, Albania, Bulgaria. So, initially they were Middle Age defensive towers, built especially on hills. Later on some of these strong old towers were turned into accommodation and step by step the well off countrymen decided to build their own fortress houses. The “cule” protected the landlords not only against foreign invaders but also against local Robin Hoods and in case of riots.
The “cule” proved to be extremely useful especially during the 18th century, when there were a lot of invaders raids in the historical train of events, such as the Austro-Turkish wars or during the first half of the 19th century when there took place another war between the Russian and Ottoman empires. Landlords used to lock up their values such as jewelry, money, fine pottery etc. inside their strong houses and prey Turks wouldn’t break in or if they broke in they wouldn’t find the hiding-places of the goods.
Often children and young ladies had their secure hiding-places in the “cula”… but don’t imagine these were some sort of spacious rooms hidden in the basement. Not at all! The hidden-places were extremely ingenious and… uncomfortable: think of a small hole (of about 2 square meters) in the pavement of the last floor, where there was no ladder to, with a wooden cover and a carpet over it – in order to disguise the place as much as possible, just in case the invaders would climb somehow to that high place. And then think of 5 to 10 small children packed like herrings inside it!
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