About Cartianu Kula
The Cartianu Kula stands in the village of Cartiu, in the commune of Turcinești, on the bank of the Cărtior stream, some 12 km from Târgu Jiu. It is said to have been built around 1760 by the Cartianu family on the core of a kula, a fortified boyar tower. Over time the gunports were blocked up, the windows widened and new doors cut, until the building became a dwelling. The timber porches that surround it were added in 1821.
The house has three levels. The ground floor has two vaulted cellars with separate entrances, linked by an open hall with massive stone-and-brick arches. The thick walls, of river boulders and stone up to a height of 1.2 m and brick above, carry two upper floors of three rooms each, with broad porches and outside timber staircases, under a shingle roof.
The house was bought by the Gorj County Museum in 1974 and restored in the last decades of the 20th century and the early 21st, with the work finishing in 2004. A model of it stands in the hall of the "Ion Mincu" University of Architecture in Bucharest, as an example of 18th-century Romanian architecture.
What you can see
The main attraction is the building itself: the timber porches on two levels, the outside staircases, the ground-floor arches and the shingle roof, in a quiet setting at the edge of the village. Inside is a museum of Gorj folk costume, with embroidered blouses, folk costumes, textiles, rugs and traditional objects, in the setting of a boyar house.
Good to know
The museum belongs to the "Alexandru Ștefulescu" Gorj County Museum. Its official hours are Tuesday to Sunday; it is closed on Mondays.
Information verified on 13 October 2026.
- The timber porches on two levels, added in 1821 around the kula core.
- The vaulted ground-floor cellars, linked by an open hall with massive stone-and-brick arches.
- The outside timber staircases and shingle roof that give the house its picturesque look.
- The collection of embroidered blouses and Gorj folk costumes inside.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Cartiu is ~12 km from Târgu Jiu. From the town you drive towards Petroșani, then take the commune road down to Turcinești and Cartiu; the house is a few kilometres from the centre of the commune, on the bank of the Cărtior stream.
Public transport: no verified public transport link to the village was found; from Târgu Jiu it is simplest to go by car or taxi.
- Where to park
The house is in a village, beside the commune road. There is no official information about parking; visitors usually stop next to the museum.
- Fees & discounts
Tickets can be bought on site or online from the Gorj County Museum's website. Prices are not shown on the house's page; check by phone or on the website before travelling.
- Rules
The visit takes place inside a historic monument: follow the route indicated by the museum staff, do not touch the exhibits, and photography indoors may have its own rules. The outside timber staircases need care, especially in rain or ice.
- Facilities
Ethnographic museum in a historic monument · access by outside timber staircases
Frequently asked questions about Cartianu Kula
- What are the opening hours of Cartianu Kula?
- Opening hours at Cartianu Kula: Monday closed, Tuesday–Sunday 09:00 – 17:00. Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00–17:00; closed on Mondays. These are the hours shown on the museum's official page; check by phone before travelling.
- How long does a visit to Cartianu Kula take?
- A visit to Cartianu Kula takes about 45 min (the house and the costume exhibition).
- Can you visit Cartianu Kula with kids?
- Yes, Cartianu Kula is suitable for children (outside timber staircases).
- Where can I park at Cartianu Kula?
- There is free parking at Cartianu Kula (in the village, next to the museum). The house is in a village, beside the commune road. There is no official information about parking; visitors usually stop next to the museum.
- How do I get to Cartianu Kula?
- Cartianu Kula is located at Aleea Muzeului 3, sat Cartiu, Turcinești, Gorj County. By car: Cartiu is ~12 km from Târgu Jiu. From the town you drive towards Petroșani, then take the commune road down to Turcinești and Cartiu; the house is a few kilometres from the centre of the commune, on the bank of the Cărtior stream. Public transport: no verified public transport link to the village was found; from Târgu Jiu it is simplest to go by car or taxi.
- When is the best time to visit Cartianu Kula?
- The best season for Cartianu Kula: All year round (open all year).
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