The restoration process lasted for 2 years. The result is a local touristic attraction that receives thousands of visitors each summer. Here are some of the most important rooms of this medieval complex:

“Sfantul Nicolae” Chapel was the place where people living in Neamt Stronghold used to pray and where the religious services were held. The old chapel was beautifully restored and the visitors have the chance of saying a prayer in the same place where the rulers of Moldova used to pray.

The Judgment Room was decorated in such a way that the old atmosphere is present in every object: wooden chairs, a long wooden table, an armored knight ready to intervene and five soldiers in military clothes. On the walls of this room you’ll see shields, swords and spears.

The Store Room, were they used to store the supplies it’s full with barrels, hemp bags with “food” and dried plants. Right near this room you’ll see the Dining Room where you’ll observe old ovens and traditional pottery used for serving the meal.

The Jail from Neamt Stronghold, also known as “the black prison” it’s the place where they kept the military prisoners and criminals from that period. Here, the few villains with long beards, dirty and torn clothes make you feel the dark atmosphere that was in this place. The villains are in chains and on the floor covered with straws you’ll also see roaches, spiders and mice.

The Monetary Room is where they used to create the copper coins. Here you’ll see a small exhibition with coins from different historic periods.

On the walls of the restored Neamt Stronghold you’ll also see photos and information about the old strongholds from Moldova region. The objects displayed will offer to visitors a glimpse of what life used to be when Stefan cel Mare ruled in Moldova.

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Short description:

The Princely Palace was once a beautiful architectural complex and place where many historical events took place. Its beginning are found in the XIII century when on this place was built a hermitage by the monk Silvestru that was under the guidance of the Neamt Monastery. During the ruler of Ieremia Movila the hermitage will be called The Pion Monastery and after that will become the Hermitage Hangu. In the year 1639, the brother of Vasile Lupu, by his name Gheorghe builds a stone church here.

In 1792, Matei Cantacuzino leaves for Russia where he obtains the title of “cneaz” and some other imperial distinctions. He will use his power to attack the hermitage in many law suits. In the year 1840, despite of the efforts of Veniamin Costache, the Cantacuzino family obtain the property of the monastery and the monks are forced to move. After that moment, the entire complex will be turned into a mansion.

The period of glory of the Princely Palace from the Schit village was between 1840 and 1852 when it was visited by Wilhelm von Kotzebue and Alexandre Dumas.  By spending too much to maintain a visual appearance the Cantacuzino family loose all their properties. In the year 1852, the Princely Palace  is sold in an action and bought by Smaranda Sturza.

In time the buildings become ruins and these days the only thing that was left are the story and some walls.
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Built: in the year 1466 by Stefan cel Mare

Short description:

The fortress was built by Stefan cel Mare (Stefan the Great) and it represented an important resistance point and a true fortification of stone. This is the only fortress that was not built on higher ground as other medieval fortresses. The walls were surrounded by a defense trench with a width of 30-60 m.

The ground on which the fortress was built was instable and it required special attention by building “a bed of wood” over which the foundation of the fortress was built. The seven circular towers were linked by walls in the shape of a star.

In the year 1476, the fortress was destroyed by the Turkish army under the command of Mahomed the II but it was rebuilt in 1478. In the year 1483, the fortress was reinforced with some additional walls in front of the entrance and a rectangular tower on the south side.

Over time, the fortress played an important role in the defensive system of Moldavia. In the year 1675, Dumitrascu Cantacuzino will destroy the fortress as an order from the Turkish Empire. Slowly but surely the walls crumbled and today we can only see some parts of the foundation buried in the river Siret.

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Built: we assume that the construction was made by Petru I Musat (1375 – 1391)

Short description:

The Musatin Fortess or The Fortress of Land is the oldest historical monument from the city Roman. Its existence is first mentioned on March 30, 1392 in a document from the ruler Roman I Musat.

From an architectural stand of point the fortress was built in the shape of a horseshoe, made out of wood and soil. The defense was secured by a trench that went all the way to the river called Moldova.

The existence of the fortress is short. The archeological diggings in the area revealed ceramic objects and representations that certify the fact that the fortress was abandoned around 1410, in the time of Alexandru cel Bun. Today, here, we can visit the Archbishop Complex.

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Built: the architectural complex belongs to the eneolithic era (Cucucteni A), the bronze era (Monteoru culture), a fortress of the Daci between the Ist century before Christ and the Ist century after Christ and a feudal settlement in the XII century.

Short description:

The fortress Batca Doamnei was discovered by the founder of the History Museum from Piatra Neamt and it represents the oldest historical monument from Piatra Neamt.

The fortress occupied a surface of 20,000 square m and it is identified with the fortress called Petrodava, mentioned by Ptolemeu. Another supposition is that the fortress was built as a lookout point to survey the Bistrita Valley, together with two other fortresses located on the Mountain Cozla and at Piatra Soimului.

Although the ruins were discovered in 1928, only in 1957 they started the archeological digging in the area. As a consequence they managed to identify two levels: the first one dating from the II century before Christ and the second level was dated between the Ist century before Christ and the Ist century after Christ.

The archeological diggings revealed objects made out of ceramics, ornaments, weapons and tools made out of iron – this is proof of the activity that took place in the fortress. Judging by the scale of the entire complex and the way the walls were built we can conclude that the fortress was an important social and economical center. The fortress develops over time and it reaches its development peak in the time of rulers Burebista and Decebal. After the second war between Daci and Romans, the last ones will destroy the fortress because of its strategic placement.

In present days, on the place of the fortress Batca Doamnei we can see only the remains of what once was a mighty architectural complex. For tourists the trip to the top of the hill is a pleasant experience together with a superb view of the entire Bistrita Valley and to the surrounding hills.

From what “Curtea Domneasca” Complex once was, today are preserved only few elements: the church, the bell-tower and some of the royal cellars, where there is organized the Museum from “Curtea Domneasca” Complex. The importance of this historical place will start to diminish after the ruler Vasile Lupu, when they’ll start to reorganize the entire complex and construct new buildings. In the year 1893, on the foundation of the former “Curtea Domneasca” Complex a new building will rise: The High School Petru Rares.

Right near”Curtea Domneasca” Complex we can see the church St. Ioan Botezatorul, which was built between 1497 and 1498. The building was made in the traditional architectural way of that time and it is considered a true piece of art and a great achievement. At the exterior of the church we can admire the contrast between the gray walls and the vivid colors of the bricks and glazed discs that are overlapping in a special symmetry.

The church hosts an impressive collection of heritage objects, that represents important religious values like: crystal chandeliers from Boemia (1837), the Icon of the Lord Blessing the Holy Grail, the Icon of Joan the Baptist, a silver cross from the XIX century and a series of old books. The recent archeological excavations revealed a series of graves, religious objects and ornaments that stand as a proof of the importance of this place during the time of Stefan the Great.

Together with the church St Joan, in 1499 the bell-tower was built. The tower has a height of 19 and it’s made out of stone. It was used as a watch tower because of its location that permitted a clear view of the entire valley. The fortress near the bell-tower was built in the modern era.

As an interesting fact, inside the bell-tower of the church has lived for 26 years an elder by his name Gheorghe Lazar which represents the archetype of the true pilgrim.
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