Piatra Neamt. Our Town

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1 Piatra Neamt Our Town

2 Piatra-Neamt is a city located in North- Eastern Romania. The city is the capital of Neamt county and thanks to its architectural and natural beauty it earned the nickname Perla Moldovei. Piatra Neamt

3 Geography and access Piatra Neamţ lies in the Bistriţa River Valley, surrounded by mountains - Pietricica (590 m), Cozla (679 m), Cernegura (852 m), Bâtca Doamnei (462 m) and Cârloman (617 m), at an average height of 345 m, situated at 46 56" northern latitude and 26 22" 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 Bacău, situated at 60 km south. Piatra Neamţ is linked by 509 railway to Bucharest and Iaşi and by DN15 road to Bacău (therefore DN2 to Bucharest), Iaşi, Suceava and Târgu Mureş (Transylvania). The city is informally divided in several districts (Romanian: cartiere) Centru Dărmăneşti Precista Mărăţei 1 Mai Sarata Valea Viei Gara Veche Speranţa

4 History The area around Piatra Neamţ 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 BCE) was attested in the territory of Neamţ 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 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 Bîtca Doamnei which contains shrines Resembling those identified in the Orăştiei 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 Burebista s 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 Muşat ( ), were Piatra lui Craciun, Roman and Neamţ. The Neamţ 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 Neamţ 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 and the 20 m. tall Bell Tower in 1499.

5 Culture and Education Piatra Neamţ 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 Vacanţe muzicale (musical holydays) in the summertime and more folkloric festivals all year round. The National College of Informatics, the "Petru Rareş" national college, "Calistrat Hogaş" national college, as well as "Victor Brauner" fine arts college are located here.

6 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 Neamţ 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 Ştefan cel Mare in St John The Baptist church ( ) 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 Hogaş" Memorial Museum The "Schimbarea la Faţă" Wooden Church in Văleni The Bistriţa Monastery, founded in the early 15th century, is 8 km (5 mi) west of the city The Wooden Synagogue

7 Places from Piatra Neamt In Piatra Neamt tourists can see: Museums(Cucuteni neolitic Culture Museum Neamţ 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 Hogaş" Memorial Museum - exhibits family documents, personal pieces of furniture, manuscripts, works and personal belongings of the author )

8 Noble houses Churches( The Ensemble of the Former Lordly court, built during Stephen the Great.) A recreation park telegondola

9 Cucuteni neolitic Culture Opened in June 2005, the museum has the widest and richest variety of Precucuteni- Cucuteni art. The building was built between by Carol Zani and decorated by the sculptor Vincenzo Puschiasis. Museum

10 New improvements: 1. The Recreation Park 2.Telegondola