Piatra-Neamt
urrounded by mountains, this is one of the nicest towns in Moldavia. Practically all of its history is linked to the great medieval personality of Stephen the Great. He built the Church of St. John here in 1497, when the Piatra-Neamt was just a market town where fairs were held. The church is a nice example of Moldavian architecture. Today, Piatra-Neamt is a modern city, but one that preserved its old-days charm. It is also a cultural center, with a state theater, a natural-science museum, and an archaeological museum which displays ancient pottery. The city is the starting point for an army of hikers that spend their vacation in the picturesque Ceahlau mountains nearby. The resort Durau, in the heart of the mountain, offers quality lodging all year long and ski slopes in winter.
dam was built on the river that goes through Piatra-Neamt and now some 20 kms west of the town, a huge lake offers plenty of weekend fun. It is a tourist base for the Bicaz Gorges, an impressive region of heavily eroded limestone, recently designated a natural reservation.
he Bicaz Gorges are the gateway to Transylvania. In 2 hours driving time through a majestic landscape you will reach the Transylvanian plateau. If you prefer to spend some more time in Moldavia instead, take a short drive to the nearby town of Targu Neamt. From here, you can visit the medieval monastery of Neamt, also built in the time of Stephen the Great, which is one of the most important monasteries in present-day Moldavia. And you can get a flavor of old-time knight stories, visiting Stephen's Fortress, a key part of his defense system, now beautifully restored.
)