Piatra Neamt
Our Town
Piatra Neamt

Piatra-Neamt is a city
located in NorthEastern Romania. The
city is the capital of
Neamt county and
thanks to its
architectural and
natural beauty it
earned the nickname
Perla Moldovei.
Geography and access
Piatra Neamţ lies in the Bistriţa River Valley, surrounded by
mountains - Pietricica (590 m), Cozla (679 m), Cernegura (852 m),
Bâtca Doamnei (462 m) and Cârloman (617 m), at an average height of
345 m, situated at 46°56" northern latitude and 26°22" eastern
longitude. The town has all the advantages offered by a kind and unique
nature. Population (2004 estimate) 105,000.
The city is located 350 km north of the capital city of Bucharest, in
the historical region of Moldavia. The nearest airport is Bacău, situated
at 60 km south. Piatra Neamţ is linked by 509 railway to Bucharest and
Iaşi and by DN15 road to Bacău (therefore DN2 to Bucharest), Iaşi,
Suceava and Târgu Mureş (Transylvania).
The city is informally divided in several districts (Romanian: cartiere)
 Centru
 Dărmăneşti
 Precista
 Mărăţei
 1 Mai
 Sarata
 Valea Viei
 Gara Veche
 Speranţa
History
The area around Piatra Neamţ is one of the oldest inhabited areas in Romania. The oldest traces of
human civilisation in the present territory date back to the higher Paleolithic, about 100,000 years BCE.
The Cucuteni culture, whose development lasted approximately one thousand years (ca. 3600-2600 BCE)
was attested in the territory of Neamţ county by a remarkable number of settlements (approx. 150),
archaeological diggings unearthing important museum collections of Aeneolithic artifacts. Archaeologists
have also discovered objects here dating back to the Neolithic Period and the Bronze Age (about 1900-1700
BCE).
Excavations just outside the city revealed the ruins of a large Dacian city, Petrodava, mentioned by
Greek geographer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. The whole compound had its heyday between the first
century BCE and the first century CE. Standing out is the citadel at Bîtca Doamnei which contains shrines
Resembling those identified in the Orăştiei Mountains. As far as the existence of a local leader is concerned,
historians tend to suggest the identification of the Kingdom of Dicomes in the very political centre at
Petrodava. The complex of strongholds without peer in Moldavia and Wallachia is evidence as to a powerful
political and military centre both in Burebista’s time and in the period that preceded the reign of Decebalus.
The settlement was documented in the 15th century as Piatra lui Craciun, or Camena, a market town.
The first urban settlements, which emerged under Petru I Muşat (1375-1391), were Piatra lui Craciun,
Roman and Neamţ. The Neamţ citadel, whose documentary attestation dates back to February 2, 1395, was
also erected during the same consolidation period of the Moldovian pricipate east of the Carpathians.
The Princely Court of Piatra Neamţ is mentioned for the first time in a document dated April 20, 1491 being
founded between 1468 and 1475, under Stephen the Great, the Princely Cathedral being built in 1497-1898
and the 20 m. tall Bell Tower in 1499.
Culture and Education
Piatra Neamţ is home to Teatrul Tineretului (Youth's Theatre),
G. T. Kirileanu library and many cultural events, including the
International Theatre Festival in the springtime, the classical
music event Vacanţe muzicale (musical holydays) in the
summertime and more folkloric festivals all year round.
The National College of Informatics, the "Petru Rareş" national
college, "Calistrat Hogaş" national college, as well as "Victor
Brauner" fine arts college are located here.
Touristic info
The city's main attraction are the natural beauty of the area (the
mountains and the lakes), the hystorical buildings, the museums and
the festivals. Today, there are several programs in progress with the
goal of transforming Piatra Neamţ into an important touristic
destination in Romania (the construction of the cable car ref in
Romanian and the wintersports facilities).
Landmarks:

Stephen's tower (the city symbol), built by Ştefan cel Mare in 1499.

St John The Baptist church (1497-1498)

The Princely Court

The History & Archaeology Museum (host of the Cucuteni exhibition,
the largest Aeneolithic artifacts collection in southeastern Europe)

The Fine Arts Museum

The Natural Sciences Museum

The "Calistrat Hogaş" Memorial Museum

The "Schimbarea la Faţă" Wooden Church in Văleni

The Bistriţa Monastery, founded in the early 15th century, is 8 km
(5 mi) west of the city

The Wooden Synagogue
Places from Piatra Neamt
In Piatra Neamt tourists can see:

Museums(Cucuteni neolitic
Culture Museum Neamţ
Museum - hosts a collection of
archeology and numismatics

Romanian Art Museum - plastic
art and tapestry

Ethnographic Museum - exhibits
traditional costumes and rural
installations

Museum of Natural Sciences exhibiting flora and fauna
themed; dioramas specific to
the county; mineralogical,
botanical and geological
collections

"Calistrat Hogaş" Memorial
Museum - exhibits family
documents, personal pieces of
furniture, manuscripts, works
and personal belongings of the
author )


Noble houses
Churches( The
Ensemble of the
Former Lordly court,
built during Stephen
the Great.)


A recreation park
telegondola
Cucuteni neolitic Culture
Museum

Opened in June 2005,
the museum has the
widest and richest
variety of PrecucuteniCucuteni art. The
building was built
between 1928-1930
by Carol Zani and
decorated by the
sculptor Vincenzo
Puschiasis .
New improvements:
1. The Recreation Park
2.Telegondola