The Călețeanu Kula

Situated in Enoșești, today part of the picturesque town of Piatra Olt, the Calețeanu Kula opens its doors to Oltenia's history-filled past. Built in the 19th century on the site of an old fortified kula, Ana Calețeanu Kula preserves within its thick walls the history and memory of the local people.

Strategically positioned near the Roman Castrum Acidava and at the confluence of roads leading to Caracal, Găneasa, Slatina, and beyond, the remnants of the Calețeanu Kula emanate an aura of historical grandeur.

The enclosing walls guide your steps towards the once monumental entrance, and inside, you will discover a rectilinear space crowned by a vaulted cellar. The upper levels will reveal terraces and verandas enveloped in colonnades and arcades, which gave the building a distinctive beauty, differentiating it from the sobriety of other buildings of its kind.

The stories behind these ancient walls, however, are what add historical depth to the place and entice you to uncover them.

The building included an enclosing wall, well-preserved in its northern and western parts, serving as a defensive element. The entrance, built of masonry, is located here and has the form of an arch. Inside, the kula extends into a rectangular plan, with a spacious cellar with a vault. On the second level, there is a terrace, and on the third level, another terrace with a veranda. The latter is supported by three cylindrical columns each and features arcades on each side, giving it a remarkable aesthetic contrasted with the austerity of other similar constructions.

It is estimated that after 1880, George and Ana Calețeanu built the kula on the estate in Enoșești, a monumental construction that highlights the family's status. After her husband's death in 1890, Ana remained the sole owner of the kula. In 1986, after a long illness, Virgil Calețeanu, her fourth child and George's, passed away. It seems that Virgil Calețeanu was buried in the cemetery of the church on the Enoșești estate, located to the west of the kula. In this regard, we better understand Ana Calețeanu's and her daughter Maria Mitescu's support for the maintenance of the church. After Ana Calețeanu's death in 1900, Maria Mitescu became the owner of the Enoșești estate and the kula.

Once you've arrived in this wonderful area, you must visit the Saint Elijah Church in Piatra Olt, Olt County, located in the immediate vicinity of the kula. Maria Mitescu, Ana Calețeanu's daughter, built a monument in the churchyard in memory of the fallen heroes of World War I. On its marble plaque, there are three bas-relief medallions representing the figure of Roman Emperor Trajan and King Ferdinand, as well as the royal crown of Romania.

Also in Piatra Olt, you can visit the History Museum arranged in the old school of the locality. Here are exhibited some of the relics discovered in the Roman Castrum and settlement Acidava, identified in Enoșești.

You cannot leave without visiting the Brâncoveni Monastery in the village of Brâncoveni, which was the residence of the boyars from the Brâncoveanu family. Matei Basarab, who was to become the ruler of Wallachia in the first half of the 17th century, originated from here.