Google Maps for the objectives

The Touristic Complex “Peste Vale” from Piatra Neamt – The Touristic Complex “Peste Vale” is located at the base of Cernegura Mountain, on the right side of Bistrita River. These days, the entire complex offers a complete package for tourists: accommodation, sport courts, playgrounds for kids, swimming pools, beach and camping, barbeque area, etc.

Almas Monastery – Situated on the valley of the little brook Almas, from the village Garcina, at approximately 12 km north-west from Piatra Neamt, at an altitude of 510 m. The monastery has its origins in an ancient parish of monks, from the XV century led by Vasile Almas, which was from the country of Hateg. The architecture of the church is really special. Built in the shape of a cross, the church has three towers located on the east-west axis.

Horaita Monastery – The church from Horaita is unique because of its architectural style with roman-byzantine influences and also Russian ones that we can see in the number and placement of the 8 towers. The wall that separates the altar from the rest of the church was made in Vienna and it is unique in Romania and probably in the world because of the placement of the pulpit above the holy doors and because of the unusual exhibition, for the orthodox religion, of the Holy Apostles and The Profets from the Old Testament. The sculpture is a memory of the Baroque style and is made in three essences of wood: lime, par and tuia.

Cuejdel Lake – Located in the silence of the pine forest, the lake has an area of 2.2 ha and is 1 km long. The scenery is savage, under the form of a drown forest. The exquisite beauty of the place and the diversity of life make this place unique. All these things contribute to the protection of this area by law starting with 2004.

Baltatesti Resort –Baltatesti Resort is located at 34 km from Piatra Neamt and 11 km from Targu Neamt, in the center of the village Baltatesti. The natural landscape is truly beautiful and the resort it’s known for its mineral waters with a high content of salts that have therapeutic effects. Today, Baltatesti Resort has 4 hotels and can accommodate 500 tourists. The treatment base has 75 cabinets. The therapeutic indications for the waters found at Baltatesti are for: stress, diseases of the locomotor system, gynecological disease, chronic respiratory and associated disorders.

Varatec Monastery – The monastery is situated in the village Agapia, at 12 km from Targu Neamt and 40 km from Piatra Neamt in a small valley at the foot of Stanisoara Mountain, at an altitude of 460 m. The architecture of the church is a combination of the traditional Moldavian style from the XV-XVI centuries with foreign influences from the XVII-XIX centuries. The monastic complex from Varatec also includes the church “St. Joan the Baptist” from the XIX century where we can find the grave of Veronica Micle and the church “The Change of Face- of Jesus” from the XIX century.

Agapia Monastery – Located on the valley of the creek Agapia – Topolita, at the foot of Magura hill, Agapia Monastery is the only monastic settlement in the country that bears the name of “Christian love”, which comes from the Greek “agapis”. Painted by Nicolae Grigorescu, in the year 1858, the church of Agapia Monastery becomes a true architectural jewelry which combines characteristics of the byzantine style with the neoclassic style and the Romanian art. At Agapia Monastery we find an impressive museum that has a collection of medieval art and religious objects and also a library that includes books and old manuscripts. Also, in the village, we can visit the Memorial House of Alexandru Vlahuta.

“Padurea de argint” (The Silver Forest) – “Padurea de argint” (The Silver Forest) is a mixed reservation. The area is approximately 2,4 ha and it’s formed by a type of birch. Most of the forest it’s made out of old trees, over 100 years.
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“Codrii de arama” (The Emerald Forest) – “Codrii de arama” (The Emerald Forest), also known as The Oak Reservation Dumbrava, covers 56,5 ha and it’s formed of old oaks with an age between 150 and 200 years. This natural reservation it’s impressive because of the look of the old oaks.

Neculai Popa Museum from Tarpesti – Born on 13 August 1913, Neculai Popa is an exquisite artist and a passionate collector of traditional art and folk objects. The museum was founded in the 70’ in his house. What you can see today, if you go there is one of the most interesting museums in Romania. The museum is formed by an old house and a special built place that hosts over 3000 objects, starting with Cucuteni ceramics and continuing with other art objects made out of wood and iron, coins, clothing.

Memorial House Veronica Micle – The memorial house of Veronica Micle was built in the year 1834 by the monks from Neamt Monastery and bought by her mother in 1850. The permanent exhibition of the museum is dedicated to the life and literal activity of Veronica Micle, which is, as we know, the inspiration muse of our greatest national poet Mihai Eminescu. When we leave the museum we can see the “Alley of poplars” presented in the love lyrics of the poet Mihai Eminescu.

You can start with the oldest monastery from Neamt County, Neamt Monastery, built in XIV century by Musatin family. Continue your journey with Bistrita Monastery, built by ruler Alexandru cel Bun in XIV century. This is also the place where you’ll find his tomb.

After that, in chronological order, visit the monasteries built by Stefan cel Mare in XV century: Tazlau Monastery, built in 1487 and Razboieni Monastery built in 1496. In the same century were built Iosif Hermitage that later was transformed in Bisericani Monastery, built by Bogdan the III-rd and Petru Rares, Agapia Veche Monastery and Silvestru’s Hermitage.

From the XVI century you can visit Pangarati Monastery (known for the unique architecture of the old church that is basically formed by two churches on top of each other), built by Alexandru Lapusneanu in 1560, The Hermitage from Valeni and Zosima’s Hermitage that later, in 1602, became Secu Monastery.

In the XVII century monasteries from Bistrita Valley and Ceahlau were built. Here we can remind you about Peon Hermitage (on top of it was built Palatul Cnejilor that is now a ruin), Hangu Hermitage built by Miron Barnovschi in 1627, Durau Monastery, Agapia Monastery in 1644, Atanasie’s Hermitage in 1655 and Secu’s Hermitage in 1734.

Because of these numerous monasteries Neamt County becomes over time an important destination for pilgrims from all over Romania. From the XVIII century we can recommend you to visit Pocrov Hermitage, built in 1714, Almas Hermitage, built in 1715 that later became Almas Monastery, Sihla Hermitage, built in 1730, Vovidenia Hermitage, built in 1754, Horaicioara Hermitage, built in 1763, Tibucani Hermitage, built in 1764 and Varatec Monastery built in 1785.

From the XIX century we can talk about Icoana Hermitage, built in 1823, Horaita Monastery, built in 1830 and Tarcau Monastery, built in 1833.

The spiritual and historic heritage offered to Romania by the monasteries from Neamt County is priceless. It doesn’t matter if you are impressed by these locations as great religious places or you are interested about the historic and architectural importance of the monasteries from Neamt County, you’ll definitely have something interesting to see and tell your friends.

Google Map for touristic objectives from the route Piatra Neamt – Bicaz – Borca

The Royal Court and Church from Piatra Neamt – The church from the Royal Court, with the patron of St. Joan, was built by Stefan cel Mare (Stefan the Great) between 1468 and 1475. Together with the bell-tower it forms an architectural complex that can be seen in the center of Piatra Neamt, in the Liberty Market. Right near the Royal Court we can see the church St. Joan, which was built between 1497 and 1498. Together with the church St Joan, in 1499 the bell-tower was also built.

The Art Museum from Piatra Neamt – The building in which the museum is located was built in 1930 by Italians Carol Zani and Vicenzo Puschiasis. Here we can see an exhibit of ethnographic art and traditional art (textile, ceramics, furniture) which illustrates the habits and the clothing from this area. The museum represents a panoramic vision of the evolution of art (paintings, graphics, sculptures, tapestry) made by Romanian artists at the end of the XX century. In works of sculptors like Ion Irimescu and Ion Jalea, painters like Gh Petrascu, Fr Sirato, N Tonitza, Corneliu Baba we can see the period between the two world wars – a period marked by the incidence of the European currents evolved in the XX century.

The Ethnography Museum of Piatra Neamt – Founded in 1980, the Ethnography Museum hosts an impressive collection of ethnographic objects and traditional art from Neamt area which illustrates the occupations, customs and clothing but also traditional wood architecture.

The Equestrian Complex from Piatra Neamt is considered to be the most beautiful in the country because of the scenery and how it’s built and maintained. Founded in 1986, in a place surrounded by beautiful hills with green vegetation, the equestrian base is a real attraction point for tourists and for those that want to practice the sport of ridding. Everyone can participate to classes on how to ride horses. The program also includes Touristic Rides and Rides with the Carriage. During the summer you can go on mountain ridding with horses specially trained for this kind of routes. Kids have a pony, so it doesn’t matter if you are big or small: you’ll have a great time here and something to tell your friends about.

Telegondola from Piatra Neamt – If you reach Piatra Neamt it would be a shame not to go and see the city from above, from the comfort of Telegondola that goes above the city. This construction is one of the biggest achievements of the Local Council in terms of touristic attractions. The starting point is at the train station and it arrives on top of hill Cozla. This is the most spectacular way to get on top of the hill Cozla and also the quickest.

Bistrita Monastery – Located at a distance of 8 km west of Piatra Neamt, on the national road DN15 to Bicaz, in Alexandru cel Bun commune, the monastery lasted for over 600 years despite the hardships of history. The monastery from Bistrita has a great historical and archeological value because it’s one of the oldest from Neamt County. Here we can find the tombs of some great Romanian princes like Alexandru cel Bun.

Pangarati Monastery – The monastery is located near DN15 (National Road 15) that links the towns Piatra Neamt and Bicaz, near the hydroelectric from Stejaru. Pangarati Monastery is first mentioned at the beginning of the XV century in the year 1460 when the monk Simeon, which was one of the advisers of Stefan cel Mare (Stefan the Great), built here the first wooden church. The church has a unique architecture: the windows are from wood with an iron grate. The exterior walls of the church are whitewashed.

Vaduri Lake – Geographically, Vaduri Lake is located at an altitude of 350 m with Stanisoarei Mountains at north and Gosmanu Mountains at south. This is a lake that was created in 1966 to provide electrical energy and just like Pangarati Lake it is the property of S.C. Hidroelectrica S.A. from Piatra Neamt. This place offers ideal conditions to spend the winter for some bird species.

Pangarati Lake – Geographically, Pangarati Lake is located on the transversal sector from Bistrita River Valley at an altitude of 370 m. As natural borders we see Stanisoarei Mountain to the north and the Gosmanu Mountain to the south. The lake represents an important place where many migrating birds are stopping by, because of the rich food that its waters provide.

The Art Museum “Iulia Halaucescu” was first opened in November 2003 in the village Tarcau, in the building where once was the old school. The museum is formed by six rooms that host 120 art works and personal belongings of Iulia Halaucescu. The museum manages to reconstruct some aspects from the life of the artist and to also light a glimpse of the past.

The Dam from Bicaz was built between 1950 and 1960 between two mountains called Gicovanu and Obcina Horstei. The dam it’s impressive by its proportions, with a length of 435 m, height 127 m and 119 m width at the base. It also offers an incredible view to the entire valley and Izvorul Muntelui Lake.

Izvorul Muntelui Lake is also known as Bicaz Lake and it took birth because of Bicaz Dam. The lake is the biggest artificial lake organized on interior rivers from Romania and it’s also the place where in sunny days we can see the reflection of the mighty Ceahlau Mountain.

The Wooden Church from Farcasa – built in 1774 by people that came from Ardeal to Moldova, the church from Farcasa was rebuilt in 1951 and its one of the most valued religious monuments from Bistrita Valley.

The plane, where Agapia Veche Hermitage is located, is on the trail that goes through the mountain from Agapia Monastery to Secu Monastery and Sihastria Monastery. Year after year this trail is full of pilgrims that come to visit the monasteries from Moldavia and that want to see the places where so many monks have prayed and lived. The names of these monks remain connected to these places: “Muntele lui Chiriac” (Chiriac Mountain), “Paraul Pustnicului” (Pustnicului Creek), “Livada Parintilor” (The Orchard of the Fathers), “Poiana lui Eufrosin” (Eufrosin Plane), “Poiana lui Serghie” (Serghie Plane), “Valea lui Agapia” (Agapia’s Valley) and “Poiana lui Pahomie” (Pahomie Plane).

Google Map of Touristic Tour from Agapia Monastery to Agapia Veche Hermitage

Agapia Veche Hermitage has its origins in the XIV century when a monk called Agapie, together with his apprentices, built a wooden hermitage. From the monk Agapie, the monastery from the valley took its name, which means “Christian love”. In time the entire village and the nearby creek were known by the name Agapia.

A special place from Agapia Veche Hermitage is “Livada Parintilor” (The Orchard of the Fathers), located at about 500 m from the church of the hermitage. This is the place where the first wooden church was built. This church was destroyed in an Easter day by an avalanche. The relics of St Rafail, St Partenie and Ioan from Rasca originate at Agapia Veche Hermitage.

Starting with the year 1830, Agapia Veche Hermitage becomes a hermitage of nuns by an initiative of Mitropolit Veniamin Costache (Mitropolit means the head of the church on a certain geographic region from Romania). In 1938 Patriarh Nicodim Munteanu (Patriarh means the head of the Christian Church from Romania) makes a covenant that is valid even today: no stranger can enter the monastery of Agapia Veche after the sunset and before dawn.

If you want to accommodate here you can do it only for one night at a guest house located outside the hermitage. The guest house has a capacity of about 40 beds. The short hike from Agapia Monastery to Agapia Veche Hermitage it’s not just a simple walk. We saw pilgrims going up the trail singing Christian songs and we felt the peace of this special place and if you want to feel it too, then you’ll have to come and visit Agapia Veche Hermitage.

The route starts in Cheile Bicazului, goes through Bicaz and continues near Izvorul Muntelui Lake and through Ceahlau National Park until it reaches Durau Resort. Here are some of the attractions from this route:

Here is the Google Map of the route Cheile Bicazului – Bicaz – Durau

The National Park Cheile Bicazului – Hasmas – 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 Suhardul Mare to the north-west and Suhardul Mic to the south-east. The rock formations from Cheile Bicazului were made in time by Bicaz Brook. This area is a protected one together with Lacul Rosu (The Red Lake), Cheile Sugaului, Hasmasul Mare and Hasmasul Negru.

The Stone „Piatra Altarului” (Altar’s Rock) – if you travel through Cheile Bicazului you’ll see a great stone with a cross on top of it: it’s the Altar’s Rock. With 1,120 m height, this is the target of many skilled alpinists. The central portion also called Gatul Iadului (Hell’s Neck) impresses by its canyon aspect.

Cheile Sugaului – Munticelu Reservation – Cheile Sugaului are a protected area and it’s an area well known for the rock formations encounter here that are in the shape of a canyon of 350 m, with a few small waterfalls. This, together with Munticelu Mountain, represents a natural wonder of rare beauty.

Ceahlau National Park – Ceahlau Mountain is the tallest of 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 like Alexandru Vlahuta, Calistrat Hogas or Mihail Sadoveanu wrote about it.

The History and Ethnography Museum from Bicaz was founded in 1958 as a result of the complex research studies made by the Romanian Academy in the area of Dimitrie Leonida
Lake. Since 1966 the museum is located in the building of the ex village-theatre named Ion Kalinderu. The building was made at the beginning of the XX century and it’s part of the national list of architectural monuments. The permanent exhibition of the museum is organized on three main spaces which illustrate the history of Bistrita Valley and also the 102 paintings donated to Bicaz by the painter Iulia Halaucescu.

Durau Monastery was built on the place where there was a hermitage of nuns, founded in the XVII century by a daughter of Prince Vasile Lupu. The first documentary mention about Durau Monastery is from 1779 when abbot was Nazaria. The construction of the church was finished in the year 1835 and received as patron “The Good News – Buna Vestire”, the first service being held by Mitropolit Veniamin Costachi. In the year 1935 the rest of the church, that were at that time not painted, was beautifully covered with paintings that had the colors diluted in wax, by the famous painter Nicolae Tonitza and his apprentices from The Academy of Fine Arts – among them was also the painter Corneliu Baba. Under the guidance of Tonitza, the students manage to create a beautiful picture of the Romanian spirituality.

The Ruins of Cnejilor’s Pallace – the ruins were once a beautiful architectural complex where many historical events took place. Its beginnings are found in the XIII century when on this place was built a hermitage by the monk Silvestru that was under the guidance of Neamt Monastery.

A place with great people that greet you in a simple and honest way and that can share with you their knowledge about the fascinating history of Neamt County, about the oldest monastery from Moldavia, Neamt Monastery. The journey on this route will offer you the possibility to discover the touristic objectives from this part of Neamt County.

Map for Targu Neamt – Pipirig – Poiana Largului touristic Objectives

Neamt Stronghold is a medieval stronghold from Moldavia – Romania and it’s located near Targu Neamt at approximately 46 km from Piatra Neamt. The construction is near the highest peak of the hill Culmea Plesului and it was declared a medieval monument in the National Heritage. Because of its strategic position and the events that happened here Neamt Stronghold was one of the most hardened fortresses of Moldavia – Romania.

Memorial Museum Ion Creanga from Humulesti – Neamt County. The house were Nica (nick name of Ion Creanga when he was a small boy), the son of Stefan a Petrei was born was built in 1830 by Petre Ciubotariu – the grandfather of the storyteller. The memorial house became shortly after, one of the most visited memorial houses in the area. It represents a typical monument of traditional architecture with a narrow porch made out of clay and other traditional elements. In the back of the house we see, under a shelter made out of boards a few objects used around the house or in agriculture – the ethnographic value of these objects is priceless.

The History and Ethnography Museum of Targu Neamt – The today’s organizational form of the exhibition was established in 1986-1987 when the main exhibition of the museum was completely reorganized. Here we can find a summary of the medieval history of Targu Neamt as well of the handcrafts from Neamt area. In a court of the museum we can see some traditional machines for the processing of fruits, seeds, wood and wool.

Oglinzi Resort is located at 3 km from Targu Neamt at an altitude of 480 m. Today, Oglinzi Resort has a treatment base with warm baths, paraffin packings, galvanic baths, dynamic currents, ultrasounds, massage and medical gymnastics. Here you can treat rheumatism, gynecological, dermatological, respiratory diseases, post-traumatic neuroses and asthenic. For leisure and entertainment the resort offers many possibilities, namely: club, cinema, mechanical games, tennis and volleyball, trips to the sights of the surroundings.

Vasile Gaman Museum from Vanatori – Neamt – The building of the museum is a traditional house and the permanent collection that is exposed here covers about 3,000 pieces collected or built over time. The objects exposed in this collection are valuable: manuscripts, medals, wood painted icons, traditional masks, and ceramics.

Neamt Monastery was first mentioned in the XIV century and it is the oldest religious settlement in this area – it is also known as “The Jerusalem of the Romanian Orthodoxy”. Today, inside the monastery walls there are two churches, two chapels, the bell-tower with 11 bells, the Theological Seminary Veniamin Costache and a museum with religious art and some old printing presses. The monastery also holds the oldest library with 18,000 books.

The Natural Park Vanatori Neamt is a protected area starting with the year 1998 and its main objective is to protect the population of aurochs. The park stretches over 30,818 ha. The fauna of the park includes some rare species like brown bears, wolfs, aurochs, foxes, Carpathian stags and many more.

The Aurochs Reservation and Carpathian Fauna Dragos Voda is one of the 4 such reservations from Romania and it’s also one of the biggest from Europe dedicated specially to aurochs. Located in the north of Neamt County, in the village Vanatori-Neamt it represents one of the most visited points in the county.

The Museum Mihail Sadoveanu from the monastic village Manastirea Neamt was first open in 1966 and it’s located in the house where the writer spend his last years. The exhibition of the museum still maintains the atmosphere of that period, furniture pieces, the piano, the samurai sword, an ivory chess, documents, personal belongings, photos, the portraits of both parents of the writer, historical documents from 1500, the library with all the books of Mihail Sadoveanu (75 volumes) and a few first editions (61).

Secu Monastery is a 500 years old monastic settlement. The first hermitage was raised in the year 1530. The buildings that we can see today were built in the year 1602 by Nestor Ureche.

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Sihastria Monastery – the first church of the hermitage Sihastria was built in the year 1665 by Vaarlam Motoc. After that appear the first cells and the other buildings. Sihastria Monastery is well known to all the pilgrims because of the life of father Cleopa. The main church of the monastery, “The Birth of Virgin Mary” was painted by Protos Bartolomeu Florea and sanctified at 16 October 1988. In the year 1998 here is build the Cathedral St Teodora. The cathedral is an imposing building, with golden icons and three towers.

Sihla Hermitage is situated at 6 km from Sihastria Monastery and is one of the famous monastic settlements from Moldavia. Here spend her life St Teodora.

The cave where St Teodora lived can be visited.

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Petru Voda Monstery – This monastic settlement was built at the end of the XX century by the will of the people living the village Petru Voda. In the year 2003 they began the construction of the church with some craftsmen from Maramures (a region from Romania well known for its wooden sculptures). The church is ornate in the exterior with architectural elements from Maramures and on the interior with Byzantine paintings.

The Rock “Piatra Teiului” is a natural monument and is located in a place called “Coada Lacului” – “The Tail/End of the Lake”. Here 4 roads are intersecting: the ones that come from Moldova and Transilvania. The rock has a height of 23 m.