The defensive historical buildings from Dolj, given back to the public

The „cule”, as they are called in Romanian, are semi-fortified, defensive constructions, which were witnesses of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries and which are present, predominantly, in the hill areas of Oltenia. Dolj has three such constructions, and two of them, Cula Cernăteștilor (Cernătești) and Cula Izvoranu-Geblescu (Brabova) are, during this period, part of a by the book rehabilitation, thanks to the efforts of Dolj County Council. The third building, by its name Poenaru, from Almăj village, is part of the school institution in the commune.

The impressive constructions will be rehabilitated with European funds and restored to the tourist circuit. The investment in both buildings, declared historical monuments of national interest, goes up to about one million euros.

After the works is completed, the buildings will be put in the care of the Oltenia Museum, an institution that, through its activity in the three subordinate sections, can truly integrate them into the tourist landscape, highlighting what they have of value. At the same time, in order to create a physical connection between the two points of interest, the access to this future tourist circuit will be possible on the roads DJ606C and DC120, which are being rehabilitated by the Dolj County Council, with funds from the Ministry of Development, through the National Program of Local Development.

„Cula” Izvoranu-Geblescu was built by the boyar of the same name, at the end of the eighteenth century, on the estate of the locality called today Brabova. It must be said that, in essence, these were buildings intended for the protection of estates and lands, so that the boyars could observe what was happening on their properties. However, during the turbulent times, they were used as defense buildings against the outlaws and attackers that were a danger to the population in the area.

This building went through several hands of owners, after Izvoranu being looked after by Radu Geblescu, then by his son. The edifice remained in the family and was added a third floor, with a watching place. Uninhabited since 1940, the building passed into state ownership, and after 1990 it was removed from use, reaching an advanced state of degradation.

„Cula” Cernătești was also built by the boyars of the same name, in Cernătești village, history stating that, as early as the 14th century, according to the will of the ruler Mircea cel Bătrân, a military construction was erected here by Dimitrie Cernat. Other historical sources date the building to the 18th century. Initially, the semi-fortified construction in Cernătești had two levels, and later it was completed with a second floor, with a wooden watching place.

People with a great soul, teachers who loved their history set up here, in 1972, a museum, where they illustrated as much as they could from the story of the places they belong to.
The whole process of rehabilitation and consolidation is documented by the specialists of the Oltenia Museum, with the support of Dolj County Council, and can be followed by anyone on the Facebook pages dedicated to the two buildings.

The rehabilitation and consolidation of the Izvoranu-Geblescu and Cernătești historical buildings are part of a broad approach that the Dolj County Council started, years ago, in the interest of local history and culture. The two projects join the rehabilitation of the three sections of the Oltenia Museum, the ambitious project of the Art Museum, the investments made in the County Library „Alexandru and Aristia Aman”, but also to two other projects still in work, the one of the Tourist Center „Constantin Brâncuși” and the rehabilitation of the Dianu House in Craiova, where a dedicated museum will be set up for the first time in Romania: the Museum of the Book and the Romanian Exile.

Photo: Facebook Cula Cernăteștilor, Cula Izvoranu Geblescu