January 12

Thursday Club, 11:00
Location: Room “Atelier” from Neamt County Library
Meetings for elder people

January 18

New year, new thoughts, 11:00
Location: The Social Center “Pietricica”

January 19

Thursday Club, 11:00
Location: Room “Atelier” from Neamt County Library
Meetings for elder people

Exhibitions

The memory of time: Carol Popp of Szathmary – the first war photograph (200 years from his birth – January 11 1812)
Location: Neamt County Library

Tolkien’s fascinating worlds (120 years from the birth of J. R. Tolkien – January 3 1892)
Location: Neamt County Library

Anniversary calendar
John Ronald Tolkien (January 3 1892)
Umberto Eco (January 5 1932)
Location: Neamt County Library

The town of Bicaz located near Bistrita River, together with Targu Neamt, where you can visit the medieval stronghold of ruler Stefan cel Mare, offer to tourists numerous elements about the history, the culture and the beauty of these places.

Over time, many great Romanian writers wrote about Neamt County. We can name a few: Alexandru Vlahuta, Ion Creanga, Mihai Eminescu, Mihail Sadoveanu, Calistrat Hogas and Vasile Conta. Also, great painters depicted in their works the beautiful Bistrita valleys and the breath taking mountain sceneries. Among the most important painters we can name Nicolae Grigorescu, Nicolae Tonitza, Alexandru Baesu, Lascar Vorel, Iulia Halaucescu and Victor Brauner.

This touristic guide of Neamt County will present a brief description of the most well known touristic attractions from this area. We’ll talk about monasteries, memorial houses and museums, local artisans, natural parks and reservations, strongholds and entertainment possibilities.

Also see a touristic guide of Ceahlau Mountain and a touristic guide of Izvorul Muntelui.

Neamt County Monasteries

Neamt County is well known for its old monasteries and also for the highest concentration of religious settlements. Truly special is Neamt Monastery, which is the oldest monastery from Moldova, also known as “The Jerusalem of the Romanian Orthodoxy”. Here you can visit a great museum and view some old manuscripts and old prints.

Agapia Monastery was painted by the genius Nicolae Grigorescu between 1858 and 1861. Here you can also visit an impressive collection of medieval and religious art and also a library with old books and manuscripts.

Secu Monastery is an old religious settlement that was built 500 years ago and that hosts a great collection of religious objects, the Cipriot Icon and the tomb of its founder, Nestor Ureche.

Sihastria Monastery is well known because of Father Cleopa Ilie, Father Paisie Olaru and Father Ioanichie Balan.

Varatec Monastery is located in Varatec village and holds a great collection of old religious art. This is also the place where you can visit the tomb of Veronica Micle.

Bistrita Monastery is an old orthodox monastery located near Piatra Neamt. The place has a great historical and archeological value. Here you can visit the tomb of ruler Alexandru cel Bun (Alexander the Good) and the Icon of St Ana. This monastery was home of Father Iustin Parvu from Petru Voda Monastery, until 1990.

Pangarati Monastery is located on the road that goes from Piatra Neamt to Bicaz and was built in 1560. This monastery from Neamt County impresses because of the unique architectural style that includes two churches on top of each other, in the same building.

Durau Monastery, from Durau Resort was built by one of the daughters of ruler Vasile Lupu and was painted by Nicolae Tonitza and his apprentices, among which Corneliu Baba.

By visiting these old monasteries from Moldova, located in Neamt County, the tourist will have the chance of understanding some elements of the Orthodox Church from Moldova and from Neamt County.

Museums and Memorial Houses

By visiting the museums from Neamt County the tourist can see objects that speak about the past, about the customs and traditions of the people that lived in these parts.

The history museums offer to tourists a glimpse of our past and our origins on this land. Here, in Neamt County historians discovered objects that belonged to Cucuteni civilization. Here is also the place where ruler Stefan cel Mare (Stefan the Great) built the famous medieval stronghold from Targu Neamt.

The History and Ethnography Museum from Targu Neamt offers a view about the history of Targu Neamt and the local crafts from Neamt area. You’ll see tools used for spinning and weaving, tools used for processing wood, metal and ceramics.

The History and Ethnography Museum from Bicaz presents the history from Bistrita Valley and also displays 102 painting donated by painter Iulia Halaucescu.

The History and Archeology Museum from Piatra Neamt was organized by Constantin Matasa and presents the evolution of human communities in this area starting from the age of Paleolithic and until present days.

The Museum of Neolithic Art Cucuteni from Piatra Neamt is the first museum from Romania about Cucuteni civilization and exhibits approximately 300 objects from Cucuteni and Precucuteni culture.

The History Museum from Roman is organized in 15 rooms with an impressive number of objects displayed. The exhibition covers different periods of history starting from the age of the carved rock and until the First World War.

Visit the art museums from Neamt County and admire the beautiful paintings and sculptures that will impress you for sure with the quality of their execution.

The Art Museum from Piatra Neamt has works of art created at the end of XIX century and the beginning of XX century. The art objects displayed include paintings, sculptures and tapestries.

The Art Museum from Roman exhibits paintings, graphics and wood sculptures that represent Romanian art of artists connected in some way with Roman area: Maria Ciurdea Steurer, Iosif Steurer, Stavru Tarasov, Jean Cosmovici, Constantin Isachie and Nicu Enea.

The Art Museum Iulia Halaucescu from Tarcau is located in the building where the old school was and exhibits about 120 works and personal objects of Iulia Halaucescu, also known as “the lady of the Romanian watercolors”.

The Monastic Collection from Agapia Monastery is dedicated to our great painter Nicolae Grigorescu and exhibits 29 original paintings of the artist that were created during the time he stayed at Agapia Monastery.

Neamt County also has a great collection of memorial houses where you can see personal objects of famous writers and also witness the lifestyle of different time periods.

The Memorial House of Calistrat Hogas is located in Piatra Neamt. The old house where Calistrat Hogas lived has a traditional architectural style. The museum exhibits personal documents, manuscripts, original furniture pieces and personal objects.

The Memorial House of Ion Creanga from Humulesti village (at the entrance in Targu Neamt) is the place where the greatest Romanian story teller was born. The house was built in 1830 by the grandfather of the writer. Inside the museum you’ll see all the objects that are mentioned in his most well known work “Amintiri din Copilarie” (Memories from my childhood).

The Memorial House of Veronica Micle is located in Targu Neamt, on the road that goes to Neamt Stronghold. The museum exhibits personal objects of Veronica Micle, the inspirational muse of our National Poet, Mihai Eminescu.

The Memorial House of Alexandru Vlahuta is located in Agapia village, right after you pass Agapia Monastery. This is the house where the writer was born. The nuns from Agapia Monastery take care of this museum and they tried to recreate the atmosphere from the old days when Alexandru Vlahuta was writing his masterpieces.

The Memorial House of Visarion Puiu and the Museum Mihail Sadoveanu near Neamt Monastery is the place where writer Mihail Sadoveanu stayed in the last years of his life. The museum has photos of the writer, furniture pieces, the piano, the samurai sword, an ivory chess, documents and other personal objects.

The Memorial House of I. I. Mironescu from Tazlau is the place where doctor I. I. Mironescu was born and where he also lived. The museum exhibits personal objects, photos, blueprints, books and furniture pieces.

Natural Parks and Reservations

Neamt County is a place blessed with so many breath taking environments: you have the impression of an open door museum that exhibits what nature has best to offer. Here are some words about the main protected areas from Neamt County.

Ceahlau National Park represents the main attraction from the Eastern Carpathians with three protected areas: the Scientific Reservation “Ocolosaul Mare”, the Natural Reservation “Polita cu Crini” and the Nature Monuments “Cascada Duruitoarea” (Duruitoarea Waterfall) and “Avenul Mare”. Every day the touristic hiking routes from Ceahlau are visited by thousands of tourists.

The National Park Cheile Bicazului – Hasmas with the following main touristic attractions: Cheile Sugaului Reservation (Sugau Gorge), Cheile Laposului (Lapos Gorge), Munticelu Cave, Pestera Tunel (The Tunnel Cave) and Cheile Bicajelului (Bicajel Gorge).

Vanatori Natural Park is the place where you can visit “Dragos Voda” Reservation of Bison and Carpathian Wildlife and the protected areas: “Codrii de arama” (The Copper Forest), “Padurea de Argint” (The Silver Forest) and “Padurea de Smarald” (The Emerald Forest).

In Neamt County there are also three lakes that are reservations: Batca Doamnei Lake, Vaduri Lake and Pangarati Lake. Another important lake from Neamt County is Cuejdel Lake that is the biggest natural dam lake of Romania.

Strongholds

The most well known stronghold from Neamt County is the medieval fortress from Targu Neamt, known as Neamt Stronghold. This medieval touristic attraction was restored and now tourists can see how life was between the walls of the stronghold.

Local artisans

The Romanian traditions and customs from Neamt County are carried on by the local artisans from this area. These craftsmen manage to create true art pieces that speak about our folkloric art and that were used in the old days by the people that lived in this area.

Entertainment

The most important entertainment possibilities from Neamt County are represented by Telegondola from Piatra Neamt, the Entertainment Complex “Peste Vale” from Piatra Neamt, the ski slopes from Durau and Piatra Neamt and Izvorul Muntelui Lake.

We invite you to visit Neamt County, to see the monasteries and the museums, the memorial houses and Neamt Stronghold, to hike on our mountain trails and to be amazed by the beautiful natural scenery.

Neamt County has a great touristic potential for museum and cultural lovers or for those that love hiking. The cultural heritage offered by the highest concentration of monasteries from Romania or memorial houses of famous Romanian writers like Ion Creanga, Calistrat Hogas or Mihail Sadoveanu can satisfy any cultural lover.

The hiking possibilities are numerous: from Ceahlau Park to Cheile Bicazului, from Cheile Sugaului and Tarcau Mountain to the Natural Park Vanatori.

1. Touristic route Targu Neamt – Pipirig – Poiana Largului is a touristic route that will help you discover the following touristic objectives: Neamt Stronghold, The Memorial House Ion Creanga – Humulesti, The History and Ethnography Museum from Targu Neamt, Oglinzi Resort, “Vasile Gaman” Museum from Vanatori Village, The Natural Park Vanatori, The Aurochs Reservation Dragos Voda, The Memorial House Mihail Sadoveanu, Secu Monastery, Sihastria Monastery, Sihla Hermitage, Petru Voda Monastery and the Rock Piatra Teiului.

2. Touristic route Cheile Bicazului – Bicaz – Izvorul Muntelui – Durau will offer you the possibility to see some beautiful touristic objectives like: The National Park Cheile Bicazului – Hasmas, The Rock Piatra Altarului, Cheile Sugaului, The National Park Ceahlau – Piatra Sura, The History and Ethnography Museum Bicaz, Durau Monastery and the ruins of Cnejilor’s Castle.

3. Touristic route Piatra Neamt – Bicaz – Borca is a touristic route where you’ll see: The Royal Court and Church from Piatra Neamt, The Art Museum from Piatra Neamt, The Ethnography Museum from Piatra Neamt, The Equestrian Base Virgil Barbuceanu, Telegondola, Bistrita Monastery, Pangarati Monastery, Vaduri Lake, Pangarati Lake, The Art Museum Iulia Halauceascu from Tarcau, The Izvorul Muntelui Dam and the Wooden Church from Farcasa.

4. Touristic route Piatra Neamt – Baltatesti – Targu Neamt will let the visitors discover the following touristic objectives from Neamt County: The Entertainment Complex “Peste Vale” – Piatra Neamt, Almas Monastery, Horaita Monastery, Cuejdel Lake, Baltatesti Resort, Varatec Monastery, Agapia Monastery, The Silver Forest, The Copper Forest, The Museum Nicolae Popa from Tarpesti and The Memorial House Veronica Micle from Targu Neamt.

5. Touristic Routes in Vanatori Natural Park Neamt will offer a great chance to see the touristic objectives near the Natural Park Vanatori. You can enjoy visiting these touristic objects on foot or by car. Here is what you can see: The Silver Forest, The Copper Forest, The Emerald Forest, The Aurochs Reservation Dragos Voda, The Oak Reservation Dumbrava, Neamt Stronghold, Varatec Monastery, Agapia Monastery and Neamt Monastery.

6. Hiking Routes in the National Park Ceahlau will offer you a great hiking experience with spectacular scenery and legendary stones like Toaca, Panaghia, Detunatele, Miron’s Haystacks, The Tower of Budu and Ana, wonderful flora species like The Scientific Reservation “Ocolasul Mare”, The Botanic-Natural Reservation “Polita cu Crini” and others. You’ll see natural monuments like Duruitoarea Waterfall and also the highest religious settlement from Romania: the hermitage “Schimbarea la Fata” from the top of Ceahlau Mountain.

7. Touristic route Piatra Neamt – Roznov – Costisa is a touristic route that will offer you the possibility to visit: The Cucuteni Museum, The Memorial House Calistrat Hogas, The Natural Science Museum Piatra Neamt, Cozla Park, St Nicoale Church from Roznov, the area Piatra Soimului-Luminis-Negulesti, Nechit Monastery and Tazlau Monastery.

8. Piatra Neamt – Razboieni – Hanul Ancutei – Roman offers some great touristic objectives like: Cozla Ski Slope, Cozla Tubing, Razboinei Monastery, Ancutei Inn, the Romano-Catholic Churches from Tamaseni, Adjudeni and Sabaoani, the Episcopal Cathedral from Roman, the Armenian Church from Roman, The Church Precista Mare from Roman, The History Museum from Roman and the Art Museum from Roman.

9. The Map of Neamt County presents general information and attraction points in the county as well as how to connect the touristic objectives like monasteries, hermitages, churches, museums, natural parks and reservations, historic monuments and more.

You can visit the monasteries from Moldova either on your own or by using the services of a touristic agency. If you’ll decide to plan the journey by yourself there are some benefits that include the freedom of where and when to go and the possibility to accommodate at the monasteries.

Location of the Monasteries.

Neamt Monastery dates from the XIV century and is the oldest monastery from Moldova and it’s also called “The Jerusalem of the Romanian Orthodoxy”. In the church of the monastery you’ll see the Icon of Mother Marry, painted in 665 in Israel, which was a gift to the ruler Alexandru cel Bun from the Byzantine Emperor Ion the VIII Paleolog. The monastery also has an impressive collection of old books that number over 18,000 volumes and a valuable museum.

Tel: +(40) 233 251 580, +(40) 745 823 179, Fax: +(40) 233 251 587

Secu Monastery is a religious settlement that was built more than 500 years ago and that reunites in its architecture, elements from the Moldova architecture and the Muntenia architecture. Built in the shape of an ancient medieval stronghold, with thick walls and high towers for defend the monastery also hosts the tomb of its builder Nestor Ureche and an impressive collection of religious objects displayed in the monastery’s museum.

Tel: +(40) 233 251 862

Sihastria Monastery through its 3 centuries of existence continues the classical architectural style for Moldova region and hosts important religious objects and a large and valuable library. The Sihastria Monastery is most known because of Father Ilie Cleopa and Father Paisie Olaru. The two monks were friends of a lifetime and now their tombs lie side by side covered with flowers from pilgrims, in the cemetery of the monastery.

Tel: +(40) 233 251 896, +(40) 233 251 897, Fax: +(40) 233 251 978

Sihla Hermitage is located 6 km from Sihastria Monastery. On the north side of the Sihla Mountain there is a secret trail that goes up to the cave where St Teodora lived and prayed. To honor her life, in the year 1725 the Sihla Hermitage was built. St Teodora was made holly at August 7^th, 1992 and she is considered to be the most special Spiritual Flower of the Romanian Orthodoxy. Every year, on August the 7^th, pilgrims from all over Romania gather here at Sihla Hermitage to pray and to celebrate the life of St Teodora.

Agapia Monastery is the only religious settlement in Romania that is called “Christian love”, which comes from the greek “agapis”. The church of the monastery is painted by the famous Nicolae Grigorescu in 1858 and the entire monastery represents an architectural achievement that combines the Byzantine style with the neoclassic style and the Romanian tradition. Here we find an impressive colletion of religious objects, displayed in the monastery’s museum. Behind the walls of the monastery lies the village Agapia, made out of approx 300 house that are inhabited by the nuns.

Tel: +(40) 233 244 736,  +(40) 233 244 618

Varatec Monastery was built in 1785 by Nun Olimpiada. The religious complex from Varatec includes the “Adormirea Maicii Domnului” Monastery (translated “The Departure of Mother Marry”), the Church of St Joan the Baptizer (which dates from the XIX century) and where is the tomb of Veronica Micle and the Church “Schimbarea la Fata” (translated “The Changing of the Face”) which also dates from the XIX century.

Tel: +(40) 233 416 333

Bistrita Monastery was built in 1406 and it holds a great historical and architectural value. In the church of the monastery you’ll see the Icon of St Ana and the tomb of the ruler Alexandru cel Bun.

Tel: +(40) 233 241 091

Pangarati Monastery was built in 1560 by ruler Alexandru Lapusneanu. The old church of the monastery impresses by a unique architectural feature: it hosts two churches on top of each other. This unique element is foreseen by the contrast of the exterior proportions and the small interior that almost makes you wonder “what is above this church?”.

Tel: +(40) 233 240 337, Fax: +(40) 233 240 502

Durau Monastery was built in the XVII century by one the daughters of ruler Vasile Lupu. The paintings are made by Nicolae Tonitza and his apprentices, among which was also the painter Corneliu Baba.

Tel: +(40) 233 428 391

Location:

Geographical data

Geographic location: the central part of the Eastern Carpathians

Altitude: 670 – 1792 m
Area: 6,575 ha

Short description of Cheile Bicazului – Hasmas National Park

Thanks to the impressive size of this natural monument called Cheile Bicazului this is one of the most interesting areas of the country. The natural borders of this protected area are represented by the Suhardul Mare to the north-west and Suhardul Mic to the south-east. The rock formations from Cheile Bicazului were made in time by the brook Bicaz which carved the rock. This area is a protected one together with Lacul Rosu (The Red Lake), Cheile Sugaului, Hasmasul Mare si Hasmasul Negru.

The road that goes through the Cheile Bicazului is full of twists that take the traveler through places of rare beauty.

As the road goes up you can admire Piatra Altarului (The Altar Stone), Piatra Pintesilor and Piatra Arsitei. One of these stone walls host some of the most difficult climbing routes in the country – these routes are only for professional climbers.
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The vegetation from the park is in a proportion of 95% formed by spruce forests that are laying on the mountain Hasmas. We can also see beech trees and large mountain plains, peaks with sub-alpine vegetation. The plants species that are present in this area and that are declared protected species are: Papucul doamnei (The Lady’s shoe), Floarea de colt (Edelweiss), Tisa and Sangele-voinicului (The blood-of-the-hero).

The fauna of the park sums a variety of rare species, that are important to maintain an equilibrium in the ecosystem.

The main touristic attractions in this area are the actual rock formations in Cheile Bicazului and in Cheile Sugaului, Lacul Rosu (The Red Lake), The Munticelu Cave, Cheile Bicajelului and the peak Hasmasu Mare. For those that love mountain hiking there are also 18 touristic routes to explore. you can also read the Romanian version of Cheile Bicazului – Hasmasu National Park article.

Location:

Geographical data

Geographic location: the central of Eastern Carpathians

Location: 47 degrees latitude N, 26 degrees longitude

Area: 290 square km

Ceahlau Mountain is the tallest of the Bistrita Mountains and it represents the biggest touristic attraction in the Eastern Carpathians. Considered by the Dacia people to be the home of their god Zamolxix, the ancient name of this mountain is Pion (Peon) which means “the pillar of the house”. This is the mountain that is considered to be the second holy mountain of the orthodoxy, after the Athos Mountain. This could be one of the reasons great writers wrote about it: Alexandru Vlahuta, Calistrat Hogas and Mihail Sadoveanu.

Ceahlau Mountain is located between the Hermitage Valley (this is the place where the Durau Monastery is located), the river Izvorul Alb (White River), the spring of the brook Ursu and the lake Izvorul Muntelui. The mountain has numerous rock formations in different interesting shapes that were the foundation for many legends that are now places of touristic attraction: Toaca, Panaghia, Detunatele, Furculita (The Fork), Piatra cu Apa (The Water Stone), etc. The climate that dominates the mountain is a harsh one with low temperatures most of the year. The two peaks that dominate the mountain are Ocolasul Mare (1907 m) and Toaca (1900 m).

Ceahlau Mountain has a very interesting history: in 1716 was the first mountain from Romania that was mentioned in a literary creation, in 1809 was the first mountain opened for tourists. In 1840 appears the first touristic guide written by Aga Gh. Asachi and in 1914 the Cabin Dochia was built. The decision to build a cabin on top of the mountain was a very good and profitable one because it led to an increase in the number of tourists.

The National Park Ceahlau was constituted in 1955 as a protected area and its current borders were marked in 2003. The area is about 7,742.5 ha and it’s divided in three main protected areas: The Scientific Area “Ocolasul Mare”, The Natural Botany Reservation “Polita cu Crini” and The Monuments of Nature “Cascada Duruitoarea” and “Avenul Mare”. These three areas host over 1100 species of flowers and 90 species of birds and animals that are also protected by law.

Among the animal species that are protected in this area we can list: the red forest frog, the black eagle, the mountain eagles, the chamois, the bear, the wolf, the deer and the wildcat.

One of the main attraction points for tourists is Duruitoarea Waterfall (Cascada Duruitoarea), with a height of over 30 m. On the mountain there are 4 cabins, but only three of them are opened for the public: Izvorul Muntelui Chalet (797 m altitude), Fantanele Chalet (1200 m altitude), Dochia Chalet (1790 m altitude) and Stanilelor Chalet.

For touristic purposes on the Ceahlau Mountain there are 7 touristic routes that are marked and that are safe to use.

Ceahlau Mountain photos

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