About Nistor Kula
Nistor Kula stands in the village of Cerneți, in Șimian commune, on Gârdanului Hill, a few kilometres from Drobeta Turnu Severin. Like all the kulas of Oltenia, it is a fortified dwelling: a tall stone house with a massive ground floor and a living storey above, designed to withstand a passing raid rather than a siege.
Tradition says it was raised around 1810 by Colonel Istrate Sălișteanu. The Ottomans burned it in 1815, and after 1821 it was rebuilt by the pandur captain Nistor, who gave it its name. The monument is entered in the List of Historic Monuments (MH-II-m-B-10288) with the year 1812. A restoration project of 1974 envisaged a museum of peasant houses from Mehedinți, but it was never carried out; in 2009 the Iron Gates Region Museum carried out repairs and the kula operated as an ethnographic branch of the museum.
What you can see
The building has two levels. The tall ground floor, with loopholes and a massive wooden door, hides a cellar. An inner staircase leads up to the veranda that runs along the whole main façade, with carved posts, and to the three living rooms that open onto it. The ceilings and floors are of wooden beams, and the roof is shingled.
Good to know
The state of conservation is medium, and from the outside the building looks aged, with plaster missing in places. Șimian town hall has announced restoration works, but at the time of checking no official sources about visiting hours were found. Tudor Vladimirescu Kula is also nearby.
Information verified on 13 October 2026.
- The upper-floor veranda, running along the whole façade on carved wooden posts.
- The massive stone ground floor with loopholes and a heavy wooden door.
- The shingled hipped roof, typical of Oltenian kulas.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: Cerneți lies in the Topolnița valley, a few kilometres from Drobeta Turnu Severin. The kula is on Gârdanului Hill, in the part of the village called Piatra Albă, a short distance from Tudor Vladimirescu Kula.
Public transport: no verified connections to the kula were found; the simplest way is by car or taxi from Drobeta Turnu Severin.
- Rules
A historic monument in medium condition: do not climb on the walls, the veranda or the stairs without permission, and do not take anything from the grounds. Photographing the exterior is generally free.
Frequently asked questions about Nistor Kula
- How long does a visit to Nistor Kula take?
- A visit to Nistor Kula takes about 30 min (exterior only, estimate).
- How do I get to Nistor Kula?
- Nistor Kula is located at Strada Tudor Vladimirescu no. 343, Cerneți, Mehedinți County. By car: Cerneți lies in the Topolnița valley, a few kilometres from Drobeta Turnu Severin. The kula is on Gârdanului Hill, in the part of the village called Piatra Albă, a short distance from Tudor Vladimirescu Kula. Public transport: no verified connections to the kula were found; the simplest way is by car or taxi from Drobeta Turnu Severin.
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