| General informations |
|
| Geographical position |
| North-eastern Romania, (central-western Moldavia), on the wide
Bistriţa valley and on theMoldavian valley, at the confluence with the Siret,
guarded by the Ceahlău Mountain. |
| Neighbours |
| On the North-west: Suceava County, on the east:Iaşi and Vaslui
Counties, on the south: Bacău County,on the west: Harghita County. |
| Surface |
| 5,836 sq. km (respectively 2,5% of the countrysterritory). |
| Population |
| 584,000 inhabitants. |
| Towns |
| Piatra Neamţ, county capital, with 125,000inhabitants, one of the
most beautiful towns in Moldavia displayed on terraces on the left bank of
theBistriţa, at the confluence of two rivers, Cuejdi and Bistriţa, at an
average altitude of 345 m, the town is surrounded by mountains: Cernegura,
Cozla (850 m),Pietricica (532 m) and Cârloman (617 m). Piatra Neamţ enjoys a
unique bbcolor , a temperate-continental climate, with short, chilly and
pleasant summers, long, serene and romantic autumns, mild winters, without
frosts, although with lots of snow,hence the name of Moldavias Pearl.
Other towns:Bicaz, Roman, Târgu Neamţ.ReliefIs varied and uneven for the most
part, structuredon levels from the west to the east with the mountainson the
west (that cover more than half of the countyssurface) with Stănişoara
(1,531 m), Bistriţa (1,864 m),Ceahlău (with Ocolaşu Mare Peak, 1907 m) -
TheMoldavian Olympus, Tarcău, Hăşmaş, divided by longitudinal valleys), the
Sub-Carpathian hills(Moldavian Sub-Carpathians, in the centre, closingthe
Sub-Carpathian Depressions of Neamţ and Cracău Bistriţa, as well as the 900 m
high ridges of the Pleşului Hills, prolonged from the north to the south),
that disappear in the wide corridor valley(widened by well developed terraces,
especially at the confluence with the Moldova River) of the Siretacross of
which raise the hills of the Bârlad Plateau. |
| Climate |
| Is continental, with important variations dependingon the relief
with winds blowing predominantly from the north-west and the west, and on the
Siret Valley from the north and the south; the average annual temperature is
8 - 90C, in January -6 - -100 when in July 10 - 200C. |
| Watercourses |
| Bistriţa crosses the county with its tributaries:
Bistricioara,Bicaz, Tarcău, Cracău, the inferior courseof Moldavia and a part
of the middle course of the Siret at the county border.The Fortress of Neamţ
was built by Petru I Muşat(1374 - 1391) and couldnt be destroyed by the
siege of Sigismund of Luxemburg, King of Hungary (1395).Mehmed II tried to
conquer (1476) it, but he failed. Intimes of Stephen the Great, the fortress
resisted to the siege of the Polish King, Ioan Sobieski (1691), for
fourdays.Piatra Neamţ town was documentarily attested in 1387 - 1392 under
the name of Piatra lui Crăciun.The town developed especially after Stephen
the Great built here a princely court. The region has been inhabited since
ancient times. The valuable archaeological discoveries present the image of
an intense Neolithical life, with high life standard and an exceptional
artistic refinement that resulted in the Cucuteni Culture. In the 15th
century, Stephen the Great built the Princely Court (the fortress and Sfântu
IonCathedral with its famous Belfry, turned into Stephans Tower) -
nowadays, historical centre of the own. |
| Touristic Sighths |
| |
| Mountains |
| The Ceahlău Massif (40 km west of PiatraNeamţ), the most visited
massif of the Eastern Carpathians, also named the jewel of
Moldavia(D.Cantemir), giant reaching for the sun(G.Coşbuc), the old king
of the Moldavian Carpathians (Al.Vlahuţă). The Ceahlău forms a distinct
geographical unit, and although it has a moderate height (Ocolaşu Mare Peak,
1,907 m), when the sky is clear it can be seen from remote distance. Its form
of huge castle ruined by the winds, the rains and the waters, atracts with an
iresistible force. It is composed of pyramids and towers (Detunatele,
TurnulSihastrului), gorges and waterfalls (Duruitoarea,Stânile, Bistra Mare).
Each rock (interestingly shaped by the nature) has a beautiful legend: Dochia
(the daughter of the Dacian King Decebalus), the Tower of Butu and Ana (Butu
was a brave soldier of ruler Alexandru the Kind), Piatra Lăcrămată,
Detunatele,Căciula Dorobanţului, Panaghia. Several climbing routes were
opened towards these extraordinary events geology, as well as many
accessible passes.Within the massif it was established the National Park of
Ceahlău that includes a complex natural reservation with many rare species of
plants Poliţa cu crini(The Lily Shelf), animals and geology.Other
mountains: The Bistriţei Mountains, TheTarcău Mountains. |
| Gorges, passes and waterfalls |
| The Pass of Golden Bistriţa cut into the hard rocks of the
Bistriţa Mountains by its furious water scalmed in the storage reservoir of
Izvorul Muntelui.The Bicaz Gorges (20 km far from Bicaz), one of the most
impressive natural monuments in Romania.The Duruitoarea Gorges (in the
Ceahlău Massif atan 1,021 m altitude) formed on the Rift Creek at 25m height,
whose thrilling roar announces its presence long before being seen. |
| Lakes |
| The Izvorul Muntelui Lake in Bicaz (35 km farfrom Piatra Neamţ),
storage reservoir formed on the Bistriţa, behind a 120 m-height dam, a real
artificial mountain. Approximately 35 km long, the sea beneath the Ceahlău,
is an attractive leisure area excellent for sailing by small
boats.Reservations and natural monumentsCodrii de aramă (Brass Forest), 30
km far from Piatra Neamţ, 1 km north of the Văratec Monastery,forest
reservation of secular oaks. Together withSilver Forest of secular birch
trees, they were asource of inspiration for the great poet Mihai
Eminescu.Piatra Teiului, geological reservation (near Poiana Teiului, 65 km
far from Piatra Neamţ), a huge limestone structure formed through erosion.The
Vânătorii Neamţului Forest, forest reservation(3 km north-west of Vânători
Village), oak secular forest offering a beautiful landscape.The Goşmanu
Forest, forest reservation in theTarcău Mountains with secular spruce firs,
firs and beech trees of impressive heights.Other private reservations and
natural monuments:Cernegura, Pietricica, Cozla Geological Reservations. |
| Resorts and spas |
| Durău (60 km north-west of Piatra Neamţ, 6 km far from the Izvorul
Muntelui Lake), spa and resort situated at the foot of the Ceahlău Massif in
a sunny glade (at an altitude of 780 - 800 m). The climate is mild
sub-alpine, tonic and stimulating, with ozone rich fresh air. In the winter,
snows are heavy, in December - April the layer of snow is 50 cm thick.There
are a lot of winter sports facilities. An Ayurvedic health centre using
naturist techniques was opened In the spa. Promenade to (the Ceahlău Massif
and the Izvorul Muntelui Lake may be started from here. The access ways are:
by train - Piatra Neamţ and Bicaz railway stations, then by road to the spa,
by road - DN 15 from Bacău or from TârguMureş, with deviation at
Bistricioara. Bicaz (28 km west of Piatra Neamţ), tourist centre situated in
a picturesque position at the foot of the Ceahlău Massif (at an altitude of
430 m). It may also be named the Bicaz harbour due to its location on the
shore of the Izvorul Muntelui Lake (the Bicaz Sea) where the leisure
cruises on lake (little ships,motorboats, boats) start. The beauty of the
lake and ofthe mountain join alpine climate to create a place of major
tourist attraction. |
| Historical vestiges |
| The Neamţ Fortress in Târgu Neamţ, was built by Petru Muşat (at
the end of the 14th century) on a plateau that allowed the watching of the
entire Moldavian Valley. For those times this was an undefeated fortress. The
impressive fortress entered the chronicles and legends, being documentarily
attested in documents since 1395. The age of Stephen theGreat represented the
period glory of the fortress considered an actual hawks nest. The huge walls
maintain the echo of a dramatic past: they suffered difficult sieges led by
Sultan Mehmed II (1476), the Polish King Ioan Sobieski (1691). Nowadays, one
of its hall shosts a small museum.The Ruins of the Princely Court in Piatra
Neamţ,was built by Stephen the Great in 1491. Today we can be noticed the
traces of the walls and cellars, the church, as well as Stephens Tower
(built in 1499 and higher than 20 m).The Vestiges of the Dacian Fortress in
BâtcaDoamnei, near Piatra Neamţ, with massive walls(about 3 m), resembles the
Dacian Fortresses in the Orăştiei Mountains. The sanctuary, the dwellings
illustrate the high civilisation of the Dacians. It was identified with the
great Geto-Dacian settlement of Petodava mentioned by Ptolemeus in 106
B.C.Palace of the Knez, near Ceahlău Village (76 km far from Piatra Neamţ),
17th century, today only ruins.The Ruins of the Fortress in Roman, was built
byRoman Vodă Muşat (1391 - 1394). |
| Religious buildings |
| The Neamţ Monastery in Vânători Neamţ (16 km far from Târgu
Neamţ), one of the most valuable architecture sites in Romania, the most
important centre of culture and art of the Medieval Moldavia. It was
documentarily mentioned the first time in 1407.The church of the monastery is
the most impressive construction of Stephen the Great (1497). Here exists of
the oldest libraries in the country (more then 600 years old) as well as a
museum illustrating the intense cultural life lived here for centuries.Bistriţa
Monastery (10 km far from Piatra Neamţ),was built by Alexandru the Kind (his
grave rests here)in 1402 and repaired by Stephen the Great who built the
tower in 1498. The original building does not exist any longer, just the one
replaced by Al.Lăpuşneanu in 1554 (he brought skilled painters fromVenice).
The monastery played and important cultural role, here being written the
first chronicle of Moldavia. The monastery hosts a valuable museum of
Medieval art.Agapia Monastery (32 km far from Piatra Neamţ),was built between
1642 - 1647 at the initiative of hetman Gavril (brother of the ruler Vasile
Lupu). The subsequent changes altered the original structure of the
monastery. It was painted in 1858 by the great artist Nicolae Grigorescu when
he was only 20. M.Kogălniceanu said: ... the paintings of Agapia are for
Moldavia a real art gallery that will always be admired by Romanians and
praised by connoisseurs foreigners.Secu Monastery (75 km far from Piatra
Neamţ),was built by the great chancellor Nestor Ureche in1602. Adorned inside
with remarkable art, the facades decorations bear the mark of the Wallachian
architecture. The museum of the monastery exhibits embroideries, manuscripts,
tapestries, carpets.Saint John Church in Piatra Neamţ (1497 -1498), one of
the few churches built under Stephenthe Great that preserves its original
form.Bishopric Church in Roman, whose construction started in 1542 under
Petru Rareş and was ended in1550 under his son, Iliaş Vodă. It has preserved
the frescoes from the 16th century.Pângăraţi Monastery (15 km far from Piatra
Neamţ), was founded under Stephen the Great andrebuilt by Alexandru
Lăpuşneanu in 1560.Bisericani Monastery (15 km far from PiatraNeamţ), was
founded by Stephen the Great in 1498 and ended by Ştefăniţă in 1517.Other
private religious buildings: Tazlău Monastery was built by Stephen the Great
(1496 -1497), Durău Monastery was built in the 17th century by one of the
daughters of ruler Vasile Lupu and its paintings were executed by N. Tonitza,
Precista Church in Roman, was built between 1568 - 1569 by Ruxandra, Alex.
Lăpuşneanus wife, Horaiţa Monastery (1725), 12 km far from Piatra Neamţ. |
| Cultural buildings |
| Ion Creangă Memorial House in Humuleşti, (2km far from Târgu
Neamţ), home and places so beautifully depicted by the great storyteller
(1837 - 1889)in his immortal Memories of Childhood.Calistrat Hogaş
Memorial House in Piatra Neamţ, keeps the memory of the writer who was also a
famous traveller. He left us wonderful pages about the beauties of this
land.Mihail Sadoveanu Memorial House in Vânători- Neamţ, near the Neamţ
Monastery where the great writer wrote many of his historical stories.Al. Vlahuţă
Memorial House, near AgapiaMonastery (1859 - 1919).The County Museum in
Piatra Neamţ with valuable exhibits that visitors can admire, such
asRomanian Ring Dance of Frumuşica, The Thinkerof Târpeşti, The
Goddesses Flight. |
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