The Valley of the Twelve

During more than 150 years since the establishment of the monarchy in Romania, Neamţ county has been host to members of the royal family on numerous occasions, the first "royal" visit to Neamţ taking place only a few months after the arrival of Prince Carol I in the country, in August 1866. In a less pleasant context, Charles II arrived on the German throne. In 1918, while he was in Târgu Neamţ in command of the Mountain Hunter Regiment, Prince Carol II fled to Odessa to secretly marry Zizi Lambrino. Because he deserted, he was arrested for 75 days at the Horaița Monastery, an isolated and difficult place to access at that time. At the monastery, there are still some furniture items that were brought from Bucharest specifically to make the prince's stay more comfortable. It is about a sofa with two armchairs and a table with six chairs that can be found today in the guest room intended for important visitors of the monastery. The Horaița Monastery is located in the village of Poiana in the commune of Dobreni, in a particularly picturesque place, conducive to monastic life, but also to the meeting of pilgrims with God and nature alike. Today's church is a foundation of Archimandrite Ermoghen Buhuși from the 19th century (built between 1848-1867), in an old monastic hearth. A first wooden shelter would have existed here since the 15th century. In a document from July 1428, the ruler of Moldavia Alexandru cel Bun mentioned a church in Horaița in a row of 52 places, given to the care of the Bistrița Monastery. The name of the monastery comes from the name of the family that owned many properties in the area, Goraeti. The only one in Moldova that is dedicated to the Baptism of the Lord, the church is also unique in its architecture that combines Romano-Byzantine elements with Russian influences, but also in its neo-Byzantine style painting, on a brick background made only in the period 1988-1993 by the painter Mihai Chiuariu. Of particular beauty is the tapestry, carved in baroque style, from linden wood, hair and thuja, decorated with gold and rich embroidery. The pulpit is 4 m above the royal doors, a fact that is no longer found in any Orthodox church in the country or in the world. The church of the monastery houses the icon of the miracle-working Mother of God "the deliverer from drought", considered the most precious smell of the place. The people of the monastery say that the icon has saved the surrounding villages many times in times of drought by bringing, following processions organized by priests and believers, the long-awaited rains. It seems that this comes from the old wooden church, being made in the first half of the 18th century. The monastic complex also includes the "Saint Hierarch Nicholas" Chapel, the "Descent of the Holy Spirit" Chapel from the Bell Tower, but also other more recent constructions, some intended for the monastery community, others for pilgrims or guests from among the high hierarchs of the Romanian Orthodox Church.

IMPORTANT: The museum building, particularly spectacular from an architectural point of view, is currently in a rehabilitation process. However, you can contact the museum hosts by phone to check the status of the museum in advance.     Iulia Hălăucescu was born on March 31, 1924, in Tarcău commune in Neamț county, in the family of the priest Gheorghe Verșescu. She only stayed here for 2 years, until her father moved with the parish to Piatra-Neamț, in the Valea Viei slum. Even though she stayed so little in her native village, the artist wanted to give the locality a part of her creation. Thus, in 2003, the Tarcău Museum was born, organized in a building of the village school that today bears the artist's name.   "Where mountain twines with mountain, fir tree with fir tree, where the stream cuts a path in the rock in waterfalls over sandstone steps, where the sky is visible like a ribbon and whose color and light are reflected in the bubbles where the trout of Tarcău play, I saw the light of day for the first time. In the memory of my parents and for the legacy and beauty of the inhabitants of Tarcău, I give to my hometown, part of the goods that have enriched my soul and creation, cultural and folk art values, representative Romanian ceramics from different areas of the country, old Romanian icons, furniture and even my own creative workshop," said the artist at the opening of the museum.   The Tarcău Museum is structured in 4 exhibition halls, which house over 100 works by the artist. Most of the works are watercolors, with the exception of a self-portrait and some paintings of family members. The main themes of the paintings in the museum are flowers, images of the old Tarcău, but also images captured by the artist during her travels abroad. Among the works dedicated to the native village are the Old Mill from Tarcău, Field Flowers from the Glades of Tarcău and Old Farm from Tarcău. In the paintings painted during trips outside the country, the artist immortalized images from Hungary, Bulgaria, Germany and France.   Nicknamed "Lady of Romanian Watercolors", the artist was a member of the Union of Plastic Artists from Romania, an honorary member of the Romanian Academy of Scientists, a Knight of the National Order "For Merit" and an honorary citizen of the cities of Piatra-Neamț and Bicaz. Throughout her life, she opened more than 60 personal exhibitions at home and abroad and participated in more than 30 exhibitions organized by the Ministry of Culture in 25 countries in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa, the artist's works reaching as far as Japan and the Philippines. In Neamț, with the exception of this dedicated museum, the artist's works can also be found in the Museum of History in Bicaz and the Art Museum in Piatra-Neamț.

The cave of Saint Pious Chiriac is located near the voivodeship church from Bisericani, located today in the premises of the sanatorium. Over the centuries, the place has been a place of prayer for many hermits, but it bears the name of Reverend Chiriac, a 17th-century resident, who lived in the cave for 60 years, in dire need. The Holy Hierarch of Dosofta himself, the Metropolitan of Moldova, worshiped at his head, as a sign of appreciation for his holiness. The first known hermit from the heights of Bisericani, however, is St. Joseph, considered the founder of the monastic hearth from Bisericani, in the 15th century. Born in a village in Neamț, Saint Joseph began his monastic life at the Bistrița Monastery, but from there he went to worship at the Holy Sepulcher and stayed for many years in the Jordan Valley where he founded the first Romanian spiritual community in the Holy Land. Because of the Arab invasion, he returned to Moldova together with his disciples, founding the first hermitage in Bisericani. Saints Chiriac and Joseph were canonized in 2008, and their relics are in the voivodeship church at Bisericani. They are commemorated on October 1, when the monastery's inhabitants and the faithful go in procession to the cave. Today's monks from the monastery say that there are several such caves in the area that have not yet been discovered, the very name of Bisericani being due to those who for centuries would have had to, sanctifying these places with their prayers and bodies .

YOU WILL LIKE US SO MUCH, YOU WILL FANCY US AS YOUR PERMANENT HOME!  Our residences promise the seclusion of a private home, distinctive hospitality and mountain vistas.    ***  TAKE ON PIATRA-NEAMT  In the heart of the picturesque and welcoming town of PiatraNeamt, at the foot of the Cozla Mountain which guards the city surroundings, you will find Atlas Aparthotel. An urban oasis, with wonderful city views and spacious accommodations. The hotel expresses the vibrant voice of the historic, yet culturally relevant Piatra-Neamt city. Although a small town, vital and energetic, constantly changing, it is known as one of the most beautiful cities of Moldova county. It stays only at 60 km distance from Bacau airport and 130 km distance from Iasi or Suceava airports.  Skiing, horse riding, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking or city biking, photography taking are some of the activities you can enjoy during your stay!    You will find us perfect for a relaxing retreat, weekend getaway or business travel.    ***  TAKE A STEP INSIDE    From the moment you walk in, you’ll be surrounded by captivating details inspired by natural elements such as wood and natural stone.    Enjoy a relaxing evening talk in our cozy lounge, indulge in a delicious dinner with your beloved ones at our à la carte Atlas Restaurant, host a business meeting or simply grab a quick bite.    No matter what you’re after, we have something for you.    AMENITIES  Unique is the concept! The freedom of an apartment combined with the comfort of a hotel and all its services and facilities.  From cozy gathering spaces to our uniquely appointed, two types guest appartments, Atlas Aparthotel features an inspiring blend of urban charming décor and thoughtful, upscale amenities to make your stay effortlessly comfortable.    All 35 fully equipped apartments of Atlas Aparthotel have the same level of luxury and facilities. However, they differ in layout and size. The apartments display an area of between 55 and 75 sqm with a fully equipped kitchen, a dining area and a seating area with a flat-screen satellite TV. We have one-bedroom apartments that are suitable for up to 4 persons and two-bedroom apartments that are suitable for as much as 6 persons. The modern bathrooms will delight you with functionality, simplicity of design and décor. All rooms are equipped with a desk, our guests having free WiFi throughout the property.  We would be happy to advise you which apartment, in which size is ideally suited for you! A la carte restaurant, free private parking, a garden and a terrace are just some of the advantages you can enjoy during your stay with us. Room service and concierge are part of our amenities. Every morning our guests can enjoy a balanced and vibrant breakfast served in two varieties - buffet or continental.    CORPORATE TRAVEL Host your employees for a relaxing stay in the heart of Piatra Neamt. We’d love to do business with you! Get in touch to see if your business qualifies for corporate rates.   

"La Curtea Domnească"  is a restoration project that brought back to life a symbol beloved by many locals. Precious memories have been linked to the building on Ștefan cel Mare over time - memories of childhood, adolescence and love stories - among the past destinations of this space are those of kindergarten, shared bedroom (dormitory) and register office for marriages. ​In 2019, the elegant building that watches over the historic center of the city reopened its freshly painted doors, with a new destination: "La Curtea Domnească" restaurant, bar and guesthouse. ​ "La Curtea Domnească" restaurant and guesthouse is privately owned by a young family of locals convinced of the beauty and richness of the city of Piatra Neamț and its surroundings.  Our mission is to spread the word about this wonderful corner of Moldova, and to offer a generous stopping place to all those embarking on the adventure of discovering the area. With 8 sumptuous bedrooms - of which 6 are in the attic, with small shutters that look out towards the green surroundings of the city (Cozla and Pietricica) - two chic restaurant rooms and a terrace generously bathed in the sun, the guesthouse "La Curtea Domnească" offers total indulgence in the heart of the city of Piatra-Neamt.

The Bicaz dam is one of the most visited places in the entire Neamț county, impressing with its size. It is the first construction of this type erected in Romania through an immense human effort that lasted 10 years (1950-1960). The construction of a dam on Bistrița was the dream of the engineer Dimitrie Leonida, who set up the Stejaru hydropower plant project, a construction that was to produce electricity for all of Moldova, with the help of Bistriţa waters. More than 18,000 people, including soldiers, political prisoners or residents of the Bistriței Valley, forced by the communist regime, worked on the construction of the dam at Bicaz, the adduction tunnel and the electric plant at Stejaru. Shack-type housing was built in the Dodeni and Ciungi neighborhoods, canteens, but also a construction site hospital for those organized in labor colonies.   The heaviest and most dangerous jobs were assigned to priests, intellectuals, or to so called wealthy peasants and consisted of digging, dislodging and transporting waste with wagons, thus accidents occurred frequently during the work due to lack of experience and working conditions. At the foundation of the dam, approximately 1,300,000 cubic meters of rock were excavated to hold 1.2 billion cubic meters of water.   The Bicaz Dam is 127 meters high and is the largest gravity dam on the inland rivers of Romania, being surpassed by Porțile de Fier/Iron Gates I, and is the third highest dam in the country. It is the 9th highest weight barrier in Europe.   The construction consists of 30 plots (blocks) separated by joints sealed upstream with reinforced concrete and copper wedges. The body of the dam is crossed by galleries, ventilation shafts and niches for visiting. In the specially arranged rooms there are actuation and control installations, tracking equipment of the behavior of each element.   18,760 people (almost 2,300 households from 20 villages) were displaced to close the dam and build the reservoir. Some preferred not to leave their native places and dismantled their houses piece by piece, and where possible, rebuilt them higher up, away from the waters of the coming lake. The cemeteries were displaced and transported on the "Road of the Dead", the trees were cut and the buildings demolished, sometimes even by dynamiting.    In the nearby village of Hangu the only building that could not be completely dynamited was the Hangu Church (built of reinforced concrete with rails taken from a disused railway), the remains of which can be seen when the waters of the lake are dried up, in dry summers or frosty winters. It is said that those who tried to dynamite it were followed to death by a curse.   There is a high-precision seismograph inside the dam, which records the tiniest tremors of heavy machinery crossing the area. The body of the dam is crossed by galleries, ventilation shafts and visiting niches, and in specially arranged rooms there are actuation and control installations, tracking equipment of the behavior of each element. Designed to withstand an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.5 on the Richter scale, the dam at Bicaz never faced any problems and survived the great earthquake of March 4, 1977. The scenario related to the breaking of the Bicaz dam in the event of an accident is equivalent to a disaster, with a breach of 75% in width and height, the flood wave would reach 19.5 meters at Piatra-Neamț (at the Bâtca Doamnei Dam).

Geological, botanical and landscaping reservation, natural park Cheile Bicazului (Bicaz Gorges) – Hăşmaş is climber's paradise, having the most spectacular canyons from Romania, Cheile Bicazului (Bicaz Gorges). Calcareous Peak of Hăşmaş Mountain allowed spectacular development of karsts phenomenon (Cheile Bicaz, Cheile Bicăjelului, Cheile Şugăului). National Park Bicaz Gorges presents a great scientific interest from a geological, geomorphologic, paleontological, landscaping point of view and from the point of view of the diversity generated by the wide variety of geoclimatic conditions. Bicaz Gorges are well known in Romania because of their impressive sizes. Also, Lacul Roşu (Red Lake), formed by natural barrage of waters from Bicaz stream (1837), offers picturesque landscape.

In Pângăraţi village is located an old orthodox monastery from Moldova, built by Ştefan the Great and Saint and Alexandru Lăpuşneanu. The name of the holy monastery is from Eremitul Pangrate, come from Athos Mountain, then local from this area. In Carol I times, monastery cellars was transformed in prisons and in 1914 here was installed a military hospital.

Bistriţa Monastery located in village Bistriţa was built before year 1407 by ruler Alexandru cel Bun of Moldova (1400-1432), that also had endowed with villages, estates and expensive scents. In year 1498, Ştefan the Great built a bell tower. In year 1546, Petru Rareş had restored the monastery and built a surrounding wall. In year 1554 Alexandru Lăpuşneanu had completely restored the monastery. In year 1418 is buried at Bistriţa Monastery Lady Ana (Neacşa) and beside her, in year 1432, is buried the ruler Alexandru cel Bun.