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 Neam lies in the Bistria River Valley, surrounded by mountains - Pietricica (590 m), Cozla (679 m), Cernegura (852 m), Btca Doamnei (462 m) and Crloman (617 m), at an average height of 345 m, situated at 4656" northern latitude and 2622" 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 Bacu, situated at 60 km south. Piatra Neam is linked by 509 railway to Bucharest and Iai and by DN15 road to Bacu (therefore DN2 to Bucharest), Iai, Suceava and Trgu Mure (Transylvania).
The city is informally divided in several districts (Romanian: cartiere) Centru Drmneti Precista Mrei 1 Mai Sarata Valea Viei Gara Veche Sperana

History
The area around Piatra Neam 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 Neam 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 Btca Doamnei which contains shrines Resembling those identified in the Ortiei 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 Burebistas 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 Muat (1375-1391), were Piatra lui Craciun, Roman and Neam. The Neam 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 Neam 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 Neam 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 Vacane muzicale (musical holydays) in the summertime and more folkloric festivals all year round. The National College of Informatics, the "Petru Rare" national college, "Calistrat Hoga" 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 Neam 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 tefan 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 Hoga" Memorial Museum The "Schimbarea la Fa" Wooden Church in Vleni The Bistria 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 Neam 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 Hoga" 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