The shinny snow covered the tree branches with star garlands and everything seems to be covered in fluffy sugar figurines. Everything stands still while the snow keeps falling down. The last preparations for Christmas night and also for the New Year’s Eve are on the last 100 m: the stores are full with people buying presents and making the last preparations for the holidays.

Piatra-Neamt the first snow 2011, Neamt County

In the evening the town is beautifully lit. The winter scenery that was created by the first snow completes the beauty of this picture. This is a time of joy, of shinny smiles and colorful lights. It’s also time to come to Piatra Neamt and enjoy the magic moments of Christmas.

Visit traditional villages from Neamt County and you’ll see traditional houses where people still practice the old habits. You’ll witness the making of the wine from ripe grapes, you’ll see traditional carriages coming from fields full of pumpkins and corns.

The environments are just like paintings with perfect composition, depicting the last warm rays of the sun before winter and the crazy colors of autumn. It’s like nature went beyond perfection and created something that outmatches our imagination.

Autumn toward Secu and Sihastria 2011, Neamt County

The grass is still green and creates a perfect contrast with the yellow and reddish forest. The smell of ripe fruits and smoke can be felt on the streets of traditional villages.

Stop wasting time: autumn is short and soon the sunny days and beautifully colored trees will be replaced by rain and empty branches. Neamt County can be the perfect place to witness the beauty of this season.

The origins of the painted eggs are lost in time but in Neamt County this tradition is transmitted from one generation to another. In the old times these eggs were also symbols of rebirth and purity and it was also believed that they protect the animals.

Traditionally the eggs were painted using natural colors obtain from plants, leafs and flowers.

The most beautiful technique of decorating the egg is called “inchistrire”. These eggs are decorated using a special technique in which the original color of the egg is maintained. On the egg are drawn different Easter symbols using melted beeswax. Then the eggs are dived into three waters of yellow, red and black color.

This technique also uses a tool called “chisita”, which is a wooden stick with a tiny brass funnel at the very end of it. Through the funnel there is a pig’s hair. After the egg is decorated they use a special technique to clean the excess of wax.

Eggs are decorated using traditional Easter symbols like: the Easter cross, the pine tree, the bee, the leaf, the fish, the shepherd’s trail or the horns of the sheep.

This tradition is carried on especially by the nuns from the monasteries in Neamt County. If you’ll visit Neamt County during this time of year you’ll likely to see these eggs in monasteries.

Here are some of the species that come to spend winter every year on these three lakes from Neamt County: the summer swan, the big duck, the little Grebe, the black-necked Grebe, the red-necked Grebe and the small duck.

Locations of the swans in Neamt County on Google Maps

The number of wild birds that come in Neamt County to spend the winter is increasingly higher every year. The largest number is represented by the wild ducks but the most impressive bird is the white swan. Recently the white swans can also be seen in Piatra Neamt on Bistrita River. Many of those that pass near the beautiful birds take photos and for a moment they stop and look at how graceful they move on the water.

Photos with the Swans from Piatra Neamt

You can admire the swans if you go to the bridge that crosses Bistrita River. The people that live nearby are very happy to see the birds and every day they bring small pieces of bread to feed them. We all would like to see the swans and the small colorful ducks remain here in Neamt County all year long but maybe this is the beauty of things: the birds can be seen only few months every year and this is why they represent a true touristic attraction of Neamt area.

The Orthodox monasteries from Neamt County are located in places of rare beauty and represent a legacy that transcends time. Monks and nuns that live here like in the old days will welcome you and teach you about spirit and the power of praying.

Agapia Monastery, followed by Varatec, Secu and Sihastria are located in Vanatori Natural Park. Each time you visit one of these monasteries you’ll feel a special silence. And during winter the frozen atmosphere makes it more special. This is the ideal place to accommodate, to admire nature and to hike in the outdoors of Vanatori Natural Park.

Google Maps location

The narrow streets of the villages Agapia and Varatec (these villages are inhabited entirely by nuns), the traditional houses covered in snow, the trees with their frozen branches, a bird eating the last apples from a tree will impress you for sure. Forget about your worries and take a walk on these streets where time seems to stand still. The snow covers the entire area: only the smoke of the chimneys moves in this winter painting.

Neamt Monasteries during winter

If you’ll stop on the road that goes from Secu Monastery to Sihastria you’ll have the chance of taking great photos of the wild waters of Secu creek: the snow, the small ice bridges, the water, all these elements offer great composition opportunities. If you visit the monasteries from Neamt County during winter take your camera with you: the photos will impress everyone for sure.

Winter is a beautiful season but in the mountains this season has something special. That is why a trip to a mountain area during winter will help you lose stress and also enjoy some spectacular places. Come and visit the monasteries from Neamt County, take outdoor walks in Vanatori Natural Park and experience something special: a spiritual escapade from the world!

So, if you are a nature lover you can hike on one of the touristic routes from Ceahlau Mountain and admire the frozen landscape of the forest. The safest route, during this time of year, starts from Izvorul Muntelui on Lutu Rosu (before any hike during winter check the state of the route with the people from the entrance in the park). Ceahlau Mountain is a true paradise during winter: a land of snow in an ocean of surrounding clouds with tall pine trees and pointy ridges covered in snow. The high contrast between the white of the snow, the blue of the sky and the dark green of the pine trees creates a spectacular landscape to watch.

Winter images from Ceahlau Mountain, Neamt County

The hiking routes are more difficult to make: the snow covered the grass and the trees are dressed in their winter clothes. The trees with snow and ice on their branches seem decorated for Christmas with the sun creating all sorts of colors and small stars when its rays are reflected by the small pieces of ice.

Once you reach the top of the mountain, Dochia Chalet welcomes you from the sea of clouds the surrounds the peaks of the mountain. A hike on Ceahlau will always represent a special moment and during winter will offer good opportunities to take great photos and talk about it with your friends.

Come and hike on Ceahlau Mountain from Neamt County and admire the beautiful winter landscape from the porch of Dochia Chalet.