Piatra Neamț (; ; ) is the capital city of Neamț County, in the historical region of Western Moldavia, in northeastern Romania. Because of its very privileged location in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains, it is considered one of the most picturesque cities in Romania. The Nord-Est Regional Development Agency is located in Piatra Neamț.

Etymology

The toponym piatra (meaning ‘rock’) was always part of the settlement's name throughout its history. It is also called Piatra lui (‘Christmas Rock’, thus also corresponding to the Hungarian name of the city, "-"). It is also simply called Piatra, to which the county name Neamț (meaning ‘German’) was added.

Geography and access

Piatra Neamț lies in the Bistrița River valley, surrounded by mountains — Pietricica (530 m), Cozla (679 m), Cernegura (852 m), Bâtca Doamnei (462 m) and Cârloman (617 m) — at an average height of . The river Doamna is a right tributary of the Bistrița; it flows into the Bâtca Doamnei Reservoir near Piatra Neamț.

The city is located north of Bucharest, in the historical region of Moldavia. The nearest airport is Bacău, situated south. Piatra Neamț is linked by Romanian railways trunk number 509 to Bacău (and from there by Line 500 to Bucharest), and by national road to Bacău (and from there by DN2 to Bucharest), Iași, Suceava, and Târgu Mureș in the Transylvania region.

thumb|right|Map of Piatra Neamț

thumb|Bâtca Doamnei Reservoir

The city is informally divided in several districts (in Romanian: cartiere):

  • 1 Mai
  • Băcioaia
  • Centru
  • Ciritei
  • Dărmănești
  • Doamna
  • Gara Veche
  • Mărăței
  • Precista
  • Sarata
  • Speranța
  • Valea Viei
  • Văleni
  • Vânători

Of these, Ciritei, Doamna, and Văleni are formally separate villages administered by the municipality. There are plans to build two new districts, the larger of which will be on the site of the former Reconstrucția factory.

History

thumb|left|270px|[[Nativity of St. John the Baptist Church, Piatra Neamț|Stephen's Tower built in 1499]]

The area around Piatra Neamț 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 ( 3600–2600 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 1900–1700 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 Bâtca Doamnei which contains shrines resembling those identified in the Orăștie 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 Crăciun, or Camena, a market town.

The first urban settlements, which emerged under Petru I Mușat (1375–1391), were Piatra lui Crăciun, Roman, and Neamț. The Neamț citadel, whose documentary attestation dates back to 2 February 1395, was also erected during the same consolidation period of the Moldavian principality east of the Carpathians. The Princely Court of Piatra Neamț is mentioned for the first time in a document dated 20 April 1491, to have been founded between 1468 and 1475, under Stephen the Great, the Princely Cathedral being built in 1497–1498, and the tall Bell Tower in 1499.

Demographics

According to the 2011 census data, Piatra Neamț has a population of 85,055, a decrease from the figure recorded at the 2002 census, making it the 24th largest city in Romania. The 2002 census recorded 104,914 people living within the city of Piatra Neamț. The ethnic makeup was as follows:

  • Romanians: 98.08%
  • Roma: 1.3%
  • Lipovans: 0.16%
  • Hungarians: 0.14%
  • Other: 0.32%

Economy

The city's industries include a fertilizer plant, a pulp and paper mill, and several food-processing plants. In the city are also located an agricultural machinery plant (Mecanica Ceahlău), a pharmaceutical plant (Plantavorel) and two paper manufacturers.

The city's main industrial park is situated south, in the Săvinești area. During the communist period, the Săvinești platform was one of the most important chemical plants in Romania and the site of a research institute. Today, the industrial facility is part of the Italian company Radici Group, and it operates at low capacity.

thumb|right|230px|Centru district, with Pietricica Hill

In recent times, the most important Romanian commercial brands originating from Piatra Neamț are Rifil (synthetic fibers manufacturer), Altex (Media Galaxy) (TV, hi-fi, home appliances national dealer), (paints manufacturer), Amicii-Kubo Ice Cream (ice cream producer) and Dasimpex (mobile phones dealer).

There are 4 local TV stations (TV M, 1TV, TeleM, Actual TV), 3 FM radio stations, and several newspapers, including online newspapers such as CityNeamț and Ziar Piatra Neamț.

Transport

Public transport

thumb|One of the [[trolleybuses that served the city until 2019, this being a secondhand Renault from France]]

Public transport in Piatra Neamț is managed mainly by S.C. Troleibuzul SA. Until 2019, the company operated both trolleybuses and motorbuses. Although the company's name still includes a reference to trolleybuses, the last trolleybus service was discontinued in September 2019, the trolleybuses were put up for sale in March 2020, and removal of the overhead trolley wires began in June 2020. The trolleybus system had opened in 1995.

Landmarks

thumb|[[Cucuteni culture|Cucuteni Museum]]

  • St John the Baptist church (1497–1498) and Stephen's tower (1499), during Stephen the Great's reign
  • 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 Hogaș" Memorial Museum
  • The "Schimbarea la Față" Wooden Church in Văleni
  • The Bistrița Monastery, founded in the early 15th century, is west of the city
  • The Wooden Synagogue

Parks

  • Central Park
  • Cozla Park (including the Zoo and Cozla ski run)
  • Ștrandul Tineretului (including the Equestrian Stadium)

Sports

thumb|[[Stadionul Ceahlăul|Ceahlăul Stadium]]

FC Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț is the local football (soccer) team; its best performance was third round in UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1999, after two matches versus Juventus Torino.

Former Fibrex Săvinești, actually HCM Piatra Neamț is the local men's handball team, three times champions of Romania and two times winners of Handball Romania's Cup. VC Unic Piatra Neamț is the local women's volleyball team.

Piatra Neamț is the residence of Constantin "Ticu" Lăcătușu, the first Romanian alpinist who reached the top of Mount Everest.

The Piatra Neamț Equestrian Stadium (Baza Hipică) is the host of several show jumping and dressage international competitions.

{| class="wikitable" style="margin:1em auto;"

|-

! scope="col" | Club

! scope="col" | League

! scope="col" | Sport

! scope="col" | Venue

! scope="col" | Established

! scope="col" | Capacity

|-

! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | FC Ceahlăul Piatra Neamț

| Liga III

| Football

! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | Stadionul Ceahlăul

| 1919

! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | 18,000

|-

! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | VC Unic Piatra Neamț

| Divizia A

| Volleyball

! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | Polyvalent Hall

| 1964

! scope="row" style="font-weight: normal; text-align: center;" | 4,000

|}

Natives

<!--PLEASE RESPECT ALPHABETICAL ORDER-->

  • Marcel Adams (1920–2020), real estate investor
  • Gershon Benjamin (1899–1985), painter
  • Coca Bloos (born 1946), actress
  • Anda-Louise Bogza (born 1965), soprano singer
  • Harry Brauner (1908–1988), ethnomusicologist
  • Victor Brauner (1903–1966), painter
  • Emil Calmanovici (1896–1956), industrialist and communist activist
  • Ramona Cheorleu (born 1982), television presenter and model
  • Alexandru Dabija (born 1955), stage director and actor
  • Sergiu Dan (1903–1976), novelist and journalist
  • Luminița Dinu-Huțupan (born 1971), handball player
  • Dan Graur (born 1953), evolutionary biologist
  • Carola Grindea (1914–2009), pianist and teacher
  • Jacques Hérold (1910–1987), painter
  • Constantin Lăcătușu (born 1961), mountain climber (first Romanian ascent on Mount Everest)
  • Gheorghe Manoliu (1888–1980), general
  • Alexandru Maxim (born 1990), football player
  • Mihaela Rădulescu (born 1969), TV host
  • Andrei Rohețki (born 1985), football player
  • Teodora Sava (born 2001), singer and actress
  • Leon Sculy Logothetides (1853–1912), surgeon and politician
  • Henric Streitman (1873–1950), journalist and politician
  • Gheorghe Tadici, handball coach
  • Bogdan Țăruș, athlete
  • Daniel Tătaru, mathematician
  • Jan Tausinger, violist, conductor, and composer
  • Mihai Trăistariu, singer and songwriter
  • V. A. Urechia, historian and writer
  • Laura Vasiliu, actress
  • Lascăr Vorel, painter
  • A. L. Zissu, writer and journalist

Twin towns – sister cities

Piatra Neamț is twinned with:

  • Alpharetta, United States
  • Beinasco, Italy
  • Bergama, Turkey
  • Edineț, Moldova
  • Hlyboka, Ukraine
  • Kiryat Malakhi, Israel
  • Lod, Israel
  • Mably, France
  • Manilva, Spain
  • Orhei, Moldova
  • Riorges, France
  • Roanne, France
  • Verbania, Italy
  • Villerest, France

Astronomical dedication

In 1998 an asteroid was named after Piatra Neamț by Alfredo Caronia, an Italian amateur astronomer and co-discoverer of the asteroid, who lives in the city.

<gallery>

Zona veche Piatra Neamţ.jpg|Stephen's Tower and the Princely Court Assembly

1 turn-stefan.jpg| Stephen's Tower

BisericaDinPiatraNeamtmartie2010.JPG|St. Ioan Church from royal court complex

Piatra Neamt2.cristibur.jpg|Ceahlău Hotel

Telegondolaneamt.jpg|Cable car

Piatra Neamt 1.cristibur.JPG|General view from cable car

Lacul Batca Doamnei.JPG|Bâtca Doamnei Lake

Dealul Batca Doamnei, Muntele Cozla.JPG|Aerial view

Bistrita.cristibur.jpg|The city and the Bistrița River

Piatra Neamt3.cristibur.jpg|Mount Pietricica & TV tower

Gara Piatra Neamt 2018 01 15.jpg|The CFR railway station

Schitul Dochia - panoramio.jpg|Dochia monastery

</gallery>

References

  • Piatra Neamț news
  • Neamt County Museum Complex
  • piatraneamt.webs.com
  • 20,000-year-old stone pendant found in Piatra Neamț
  • Piatra Neamț City Hall
  • Vizitează Piatra Neamț
  • Neamț online