About Greceanu Kula
The Greceanu Kula is the oldest building of the Măldărești museum complex, in a settlement some 3 km from Horezu, in northern Oltenia. Kulas, boyar houses reinforced with thick walls and gunports, were built by the minor boyars of Oltenia as protection against raids from across the Danube and bands of outlaws. According to the museum, the kula began in the 16th century, when Nan Paharnicul built a defensive tower here, and the building took its present form towards the end of the 18th century. Legend ties it to Tudor Maldăr, a captain of Michael the Brave, but the documents point to jupan Gheorghe Măldărescu and his wife Eva. It takes its name from the Greceanu family, to whom it passed as a dowry.
The building has a ground floor and two upper floors, with whitewashed walls and a tall shingle roof. Traces of the Brâncoveanu style remain: the cellar windows in pierced stone, the two arcaded porches and the vaults in the first-floor room. One peculiarity: the cellar does not connect with the upper floors, so in an emergency the rest of the house stayed cut off. Restored, the kula opened to the public as a museum in 1967.
What you can see
The entrance is through an iron-bound oak door, then up a timber staircase to the first floor. There you find the wide porch, the reception room and a vaulted room painted by Olga Greceanu with portraits of the Măldărescu family, after the votive painting of the nearby church, as well as the small hiding place that could be reached only by a movable ladder. On the second floor, a porch with trilobed arches looks out over the surrounding hills. The exhibition inside tries to recreate the atmosphere of an Oltenian minor boyar's court.
Good to know
The Greceanu Kula is one of the two kulas of the complex; a few hundred metres away stands the Duca Kula, built in the 19th century. In 2025 Vâlcea County Council approved the documentation for rehabilitating the two kulas with European funds, with no date announced; no closure has been announced so far.
Information verified on 13 October 2026.
- The porch with trilobed arches on the second floor, looking out over the surrounding hills.
- The iron-bound oak door and the timber staircase up to the first floor, with two gunports in the entrance wall.
- Olga Greceanu's fresco with portraits of the Măldărescu family, in the vaulted room.
- The cellar that does not connect with the upper floors, and the small hiding place reached only by a movable ladder.
- The Duca Kula, a few hundred metres away, which rounds off a visit to the complex.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Măldărești is ~3 km from Horezu and ~40 km from Râmnicu Vâlcea; from Horezu follow the signs for the museum complex. The Duca Kula is a few hundred metres from the Greceanu Kula.
Public transport: no verified public transport link to the complex was found; from Horezu it is simplest to go by car or taxi.
- Where to park
The complex is in a village, and visitors usually stop near the entrance. There is no official information about parking.
- Fees & discounts
Entry is by ticket. The museum's official page does not show prices; tourist listings from 2025 give ~15 lei for adults, ~12 lei for pensioners and a 30 lei guide fee per group, but sources differ, so check by phone.
- Rules
The visit takes place in a historic monument, usually with museum staff. The timber stairs are narrow and steep, and the objects inside must not be touched. Photography indoors may have its own rules.
- Facilities
Museum in a historic monument · access by narrow timber stairs
Frequently asked questions about Greceanu Kula
- What are the opening hours of Greceanu Kula?
- Opening hours at Greceanu Kula: Monday closed, Tuesday–Sunday 10:00 – 18:00. Summer hours (April–October): daily 10:00–18:00; November to March: daily 9:00–17:00. Closed on Mondays. These are the hours on the Vâlcea County Museum's website; for a winter visit, check by phone.
- How long does a visit to Greceanu Kula take?
- A visit to Greceanu Kula takes about 30 min (the kula only, with its floors).
- Can you visit Greceanu Kula with kids?
- Yes, Greceanu Kula is suitable for children (narrow timber stairs).
- Where can I park at Greceanu Kula?
- There is free parking at Greceanu Kula (next to the complex). The complex is in a village, and visitors usually stop near the entrance. There is no official information about parking.
- How do I get to Greceanu Kula?
- Greceanu Kula is located at Strada Muzeului, Măldărești, Măldărești, Vâlcea County. By car: Măldărești is ~3 km from Horezu and ~40 km from Râmnicu Vâlcea; from Horezu follow the signs for the museum complex. The Duca Kula is a few hundred metres from the Greceanu Kula. Public transport: no verified public transport link to the complex was found; from Horezu it is simplest to go by car or taxi.
- When is the best time to visit Greceanu Kula?
- The best season for Greceanu Kula: April – October (open all year).
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