Turnul Colței

Turnul Colței, before 1802

Turnul Colţei (also Turnul Colțea or Colții) was a tower located in Bucharest, Wallachia, now in Romania. Having a height of 50 metres (160 feet), it was the highest building in the city for more than a century. Its initial purpose was to be used as a bell tower — its 1,700 kg (3,700 lb) bell, was moved to the Sinaia Monastery after the tower was demolished. It was also meant to serve as a watch tower.^[1]

The tower was named after Vornic Colțea Doicescu. His brother, Udrea Doicesu, built a small wooden church on the plot near the tower; after he was assassinated, the church and the land next to it were inherited by Colțea, who donated them to the Orthodox Church. The Church sold the patch of land near the church to Spătar [ro], who, in 1701, used it as the location for the first hospital in Wallachia, the [ro], and also decided to build a tower.^[2]

The tower was built between 1709 and 1714, its construction being assisted by the Swedish soldiers of the army of King Charles XII, who had fled to Wallachia after the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Poltava. Mihai Cantacuzino kept his secret archive inside the tower.^[1]

An earthquake on October 14, 1802 of magnitude 7.7 to 7.9 destroyed the top part of the tower, including its clock;^[3] in 1888, it was demolished completely. Two years later, in 1890, another structure was built as a watch tower, Foișorul de Foc.

Gallery[]

Mid-19th century
Bucharest, as seen from the top of Turnul Colței (1868 watercolour by Amadeo Preziosi)
1841
1870 photograph by Carol Szathmari
1881 lithograph by Szathmari
1888 drawing
1888 photograph
Inscribed stone from the tower, Museum of Romanian History, Bucharest