Giurgiu Clocktower
| Giurgiu Clocktower | |
|---|---|
| Native name Turnul Ceasornicului din Giurgiu (Romanian) | |
| Yergöğü Saat Külesi | |
Historic Image of Giurgiu Clocktower | |
| Location | Giurgiu County, Romania |
| Nearest city | Giurgiu |
| Coordinates | 43°53′25″N 25°57′54″E / 43.89028°N 25.96500°E |
| Built | 1771 |
| Built for | Ottoman Military |
| Original use | Military Watchtower |
| Restored | 2007 |
| Current use | Clocktower |
| Architectural style(s) | Ottoman Architecture |
| Governing body | Ministry of Culture and National Patrimony (Romania) |
| Type | Architectural Monument of National Interest |
| Designated | 2004 |
| Part of | National Register of Historic Monuments (Romanian: Lista Monumentelor Istorice (LMI)) |
| Reference no. | GR-II-m-A-14913 |
The Giurgiu Clocktower (Romanian: Turnul Ceasornicului; Turkish: Yergöğü Saat Külesi) is a Historic Monument located in the City of Giurgiu, Romania. It has been designated by the Romanian Ministry of Culture and National Patrimony as monument of national importance. The city of Girgiu is located on the Danube river near the Bulgarian border. The city's location on the river made it a strategic asset for the Ottoman Empire. The Ottomans started construction of the tower in 1770 and completed construction in 1771. Its initial purpose was to function as a military watchtower used for surveillance over the city and the river. It was later used as a lookout for fire prevention, similar to the guet royal and guet bourgeois ("burgess watch") established in France, which lasted until the 18th century. After the Ottoman Empire lost control of the area, the tower underwent several modifications becoming what is known today as the Giurgiu Clocktower.
The monument is the symbol of the City of Giurgiu as well as a symbol of Giurgiu County, located on the official county emblem.