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Piatra Neamţ
Facts
County	Neamţ
Status	County capital
Mayor	Gheorghe Ştefan since 2004
Area	km²
Population - at 2002 - Density	105,000 inh/km²
Geographical coordinates	46°56' N / 26°22' E
Web	City Website

Piatra Neamţ (pronunciation in Romanian: /'pja.tra 'něamʦ/) (population: 105,000) is the main city of Neamţ county, Moldova, Romania.

Contents 1 Geography & access 2 History 3 Economy 4 Culture & Education 5 Touristic info 6 Sports 7 Famous natives 8 External links

Geography & 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 Moldova. 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 divided in several districts (Romanian: cartiere)

• Centru
• Dărmăneşti
• Precista
• Mărăţei
• 1 Mai
• Sarata
• Valea Viei
• Gara Veche
• Speranţa

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. 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 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 (1375-1391), 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 1497-1898 and the 20 m. tall Bell Tower in 1499.

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 11 km south, in the Săvineşti area. During the communist period, the Săvineşti 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 group Radici, and it operates at a very low capacity.

In the recent period, the most important Romanian commercial brands originating from Piatra Neamţ are Rifil (synthetic fibers manufacturer), Altex (Media Galaxy) (TV, hi-fi, home appliances national dealer), Köber (paints manufacturer), and Dasimpex (mobile phones dealer).

There are 2 local TV stations (TELE M, 7 Neamţ), 3 FM radio stations and several newspapers.

Culture & 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 "Petru Rareş" national college, "Calistrat Hogaş" national college, as well as "Victor Brauner" fine arts college are located here.

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 1499.
• St John The Baptist church (1497-1498)
• 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

Sports

FC Ceahlǎul Piatra Neamţ is the local football (soccer) team; best performance : 4th round in UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1999 after two matches versus Juventus Turin. Currently it plays in the second national league - Divizia B.

Former Fibrex Sǎvineşti, actually HCM Piatra Neamţ is the local men's handball team, three times champions of Romania and two times winners of Handball Romania's Cup.

CV Unic Piatra Neamţ is the local women's volleyball team.

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

Famous natives

• Calistrat Hogaş, writer
• Victor Brauner, painter
• Iulia Hălăucescu, painter

External links

• City hall website

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