Cula Duca Măldărești

4.7(925 reviews)Măldăreşti, România

The Duca Kula in Măldărești, Vâlcea County, is part of the village's ensemble of kulas, alongside the Greceanu Kula, and is one of the most representative examples of this type of architecture specific to Oltenia. Kulas are fortified boyar tower-houses, built between the 18th and 19th centuries, in a troubled time when the lesser boyars needed dwellings able to withstand the attacks of robber bands and raids. With thick brick and stone walls, small windows on the lower levels, an open loggia on the upper floor and defensive loopholes, the kula combines the function of a home with that of a fortified refuge.

The Duca Kula, with its interiors furnished in traditional style and its shaded porch, offers a vivid picture of the life of Oltenia's rural gentry. Today the ensemble operates as a museum. Practical note: visit the two kulas together and combine the stop with the nearby Horezu Monastery, a UNESCO monument and a centre of traditional pottery.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Cula Duca Măldărești?+

Cula Duca Măldărești is located at Măldăreşti, România, in Horezu.

Is Cula Duca Măldărești worth visiting?+

Yes — it holds a 4.7/5 rating from 925 visitor reviews.

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Popular sights can sell out — booking ahead online saves queuing.

What else is near Cula Duca Măldărești?+

Nearby you'll find Mănăstirea Bistrița Vâlcea, Mănăstirea Hurezi, Mănăstirea Arnota.

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Monastery

Mănăstirea Bistrița Vâlcea

Bistrita Monastery in Valcea is an important monastic settlement founded at the end of the fifteenth century by the powerful boyar family of the Craiovesti, in a spectacular natural setting at the foot of the Capatanii Mountains, near the Bistrita Gorges. Over the centuries the monastery was destroyed and rebuilt several times, and the present appearance of the great church bears the mark of nineteenth-century restorations. It has preserved the relics of Saint Gregory the Decapolite and once housed one of the first printing presses in Wallachia, making it a centre of spirituality and culture of remarkable antiquity. Nearby are the Cave of Saint Gregory the Decapolite and rock hermitages carved into the cliff. The mountain setting and the quiet complete the atmosphere. Practical note: the monastery can be combined with a hike in the Bistrita Gorges and a visit to the nearby cave; it is active, so respect the customs of the place.

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Monastery

Mănăstirea Hurezi

Horezu Monastery, located near the town of Horezu in Oltenia, is the largest monastic ensemble in Wallachia and the masterpiece of the Brancovan style, which is why it has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Founded at the end of the seventeenth century by the ruler Constantin Brancoveanu, the monastery impresses through its architectural balance, the richness of its stone and wood carving and its ensemble of remarkably well-preserved frescoes, which include portraits of the founder and his family. Elegant columns, arcades, porches and fine decoration define this style, a synthesis of Byzantine tradition and Western influences. The complex includes the great church, chapels, cells and a valuable library, a testimony to its cultural role. The quiet setting at the foot of the mountains reinforces the atmosphere of spirituality. Practical note: allow time to admire the frescoes and painting; the visit combines naturally with the Horezu pottery centre, famous for its traditional ceramics.

4.8(2,548 reviews)

Monastery

Mănăstirea Arnota

Arnota Monastery rises in solitude on a mountain peak in northern Oltenia, above the village of Costești, in a landscape of rocks and forests that heightens the sense of withdrawal. It was founded in the first half of the seventeenth century by the ruler Matei Basarab, who chose this sheltered spot to also prepare his tomb, which lies today inside the church. The church preserves a particularly valuable carved iconostasis and fragments of wall painting from the founder's era, testimonies of early Brâncoveanu-style art. The road climbing up to the monastery offers wide views over the sub-Carpathian hills and the nearby limestone quarry. The atmosphere is quiet and fit for contemplation, and the monastic community carefully maintains the complex. Visitors who reach this place are rewarded with a blend of the site's historic value and the beauty of the surrounding nature. Suitable footwear is recommended for the access road.

4.8(2,218 reviews)

Cula Duca Măldărești

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