The Valley of the Twelve

The history of the Sihla Hermitage, the holy fathers and the founders has remained unresearched and very poor in data. A history of hesychasm from the forests of Sihla and even from the Sihla Hermitage, due to the secret life that the old hermits and monks led, has proven to be difficult to achieve until today. In the past, the centuries-old forests of Sihla were very wild, full of thickets, very difficult to access and devoided of any human presence. Only some hermits who loved peace and the wildness of the forest dared to live in complete wilderness, in a cold and inhospitable climate. Over time, the countless hermits scattered through the vast forests between the Neamt, Secu, Sihastria and Agapia Monasteries, leading towards Hangu, Durău, Ceahlau, a territory recognized as the "Romanian Athos", considered the forests of Sihla to be "the greatest wilderness". Here, only hermits who had reached the highest levels of hesychastic training dared to sacrifice themselves, some of them remaining in complete secrecy for decades.   The presence of hermits in Sihla dates back to the beginning of the 13th century, a tradition handed down by word of mouth from the old monks. The first written mention appears in a Serbian record from 1326, as in Sihla there is a hermitage belonging to the "White Church" from the Neamț Monastery.

The recorded tradition in some old manuscripts says that a certain hermit, Agapie, together with several disciples, withdrew from the Neamţ Monastery for a life of austerity and contemplation and built, in the second half of the 14th century, a modest hermitage, from wood. The Hermitage and the Agapia Monastery, the surrounding mountains, the stream, the village and the commune, which were properties of the monastery, took their names from this hermit.  The first documentary mention is made by Ilies Vodă, in 1437, by which the boundary between Agapiei Monastery and Neamţ Monastery, with which it adjoins, is established. A document from July 12, 1464, mentions Hieromonk Arsenie, the abbot of Agapia, in a dispute with the Neamț Citadel for a house with an orchard in Târgul Neamț. Another document, from 1498, mentions Isaia, the abbot of Agapia, who had a quarrel with the Neamţ Citadel over a border mountain. Agapia is on the list of monasteries during the reign of Stephen the Great, when it had 15-20 monks. These are proofs that Agapia existed throughout the 15th century. Photo credit: Oana Nechifor (via Doxologia.ro)

Out of the desire to show what a day is like in the life of a monk, especially the nuns from the Agapia Monastery, in 2013 one of the houses in the monastery village was opened for visitors. In the carefully furnished and arranged house you can find icons, church objects, embroideries, carpets made in the monastery. In the 3 workshops (weaving and embroidery, pottery and bakery) those interested can test their skills and creativity.     The Vivant Museum is housed in one of the oldest houses of the monastic village of Agapia, which was built with a stone ground floor and a wooden upper floor. The cottages and household rooms are furnished in a traditional and attractive style, presenting how a nun's day unfolds in the convent. Also, on the ground floor you can see how the monks lived in the past, before Agapia was a nunnery. Even though the museum has only been around for a few years, the exhibits, furniture, fabrics were created hundreds of years ago. More info here: https://www.tinutulzimbrului.ro/en/descopera/the-vivant-museum/ 

One of the places that keeps alive the memory of the poet Veronica Micle (1850-1889) is the memorial house in Târgu-Neamţ, located in the old hearth of the city, on the road leading to Neamţ Citadel. Built by the Neamţ Monastery around 1834, to be used as a monastery and a school for monks, the building was bought in 1850 by Ana Câmpeanu (Veronica Micle's mother), who came here from Năsăud, after the death of her husband, together with the her two children, Veronica and Radu. We do not know the reasons why the Neamţ Monastery sold this house, but it is certain that on August 10, 1850, Ana Câmpeanu became the owner of this building, as shown by the sale-purchase deed. VISITING HOURS: 10 am - 6 pm (April-September) 9 am - 5 pm (October-March) ACCESS FEES: Adults: 16 RON Pupils: 8 RON Students and groups: 8 RON

Târgu-Neamț is a city in Neamț county, formed by the component localities of Blebea, Humulești, Humuleștii Noi and Târgu Neamț (residence). The town is famous primarily for the Neamț Citadel, but also for the house where the poet Veronica Micle grew up or for the town of Humulești, the childhood cradle of the storyteller Ion Creangă.   In addition, the city is the center of an area in the north of Neamț County where there are approximately 20 Orthodox monasteries, some of important artistic and cultural value, such as Văratec, Agapia or Secu. Târgu has a population of about 20,000 inhabitants.

Bălţăteşti resort is located in the N-E of Neamţ county, in the Neamţ Depression, right between the towns of Piatra Neamţ (34 km away) and Târgu Neamţ (11 km away). The resort is located in Valea Sărată, sheltered by the hills in the southwest of the Neamţ Depression. In the vicinity of the commune are located the villages of Netezi, Suseni, Ghindăoani, Crăcăoani, Văratec and Săcălușești. In the town of Bălţateşti, chlorosodic waters are successfully used for medical recovery. The Bălţăteşti region has a long history, having been inhabited since ancient times. Forest wood, thermal waters, mild climate and green fields that provided food for sheep and cattle were the key factors that led to the economic development of these places. After the formation of the feudal state, the migration of the population took place in the Neamţ Depression, which led to the increase in the number of settlements and their enlargement. Thus, several people settled in Bălţateşti, forming settlements such as: Ghindăoani, Ţuţuieni, Oșlobeni. In 1918, the commune of Bălţateşti consisted of the village of the same name, as well as the towns of Valea Arini, Valea Seacă, Mitocul-Bălan, with a total population of 3,000 inhabitants. The existence of mineral springs in Bălţăteşti was known from the beginning of the 19th century, being analyzed at first by the Cantacuzini principles. A few years later, the news spread throughout Moldova about the beneficial effects of Slatina from Bălţăteşti, becoming popular among women and children who came here and improved their mood considerably.

If you still made the effort to reach Dochia Cabin, it would be a shame not to also climb the Toaca Peak (altitude 1904 meters). And don't be put off by the 519 steps! These are extremely photogenic and we're sure you'll take lots of great pictures to frame. As for the view from the top, it is truly overwhelming. You will be able to admire the entire plateau of the Ceahlău Massif, the Panaghia rock (one of the symbols of the mountain), the Izvorul Muntelui lake (considered the sea of the Carpathians) and many other settlements, including the city of Piatra Neamț (only 30 km away in a straight line).

The Ceahlău massif is the highest of the Bistriţa Mountains, part of the Moldavian-Transylvanian Carpathian group. This is one of the mountains with the greatest tourist importance in the Eastern Carpathians.   Located on the territory of Neamţ county, a short distance from the town of Bicaz, from the Izvorul Muntelui lake, but also from the municipality of Piatra-Neamţ (in a straight line it is only 30km). Its highest peak is Ocolaşul Mare, with an altitude of 1907 m, the Toaca peak measuring 1904 m.   There are 8 marked tourist routes on Ceahlău, with varying degrees of difficulty, with two main starting points: Izvorul Muntelui (near Bicaz) and Durău. Two of them depart from the commune of Bicazul Ardelean.   Those who do not climb to the top, to Dochia or Toaca, but only to Fântânele or to the Duruitoarea Fall, will enjoy unforgettable landscapes on these routes as well. From wherever you look, Mount Ceahlău offers a dreamy view, impressing with its massiveness.   For more info on the trails check this link: https://www.ceahlaupark.ro/en/trails/ 

The construction of the cabin began in the spring of 1913 and was completed in the fall of the same year. It is the first tourist cabin built in the Eastern Carpathians. Over the years, it has been extended several times, and the accommodation capacity has gradually increased.   As a result of the severe damage of the mountain shelter during the First World War, important restoration works were carried out. On August 6, 1922, on the occasion of the celebration of Ceahlău (Mountain Day as the locals call it), the renovated cabin with approximately 30 seats was again made available to hikers, this time for a long time. 606 people were present at the inauguration. The next restoration of the cabin took place in 1946, and in 1958-1959 it was expanded to accommodate more tourists (120 places). Old rooms were completed with new ones, with stone walls fixed with mortar and electric light was introduced. In 1962, the cottage could accommodate 150 tourists at the cottages. In the years 1984-1988, the capacity and comfort conditions of the lodge increased by adding a new wing, with three levels. The cabin was recently renovated and the restaurant serves a varied meniu. Additionally, tourists can enjoy a sauna and an outdoor hot bath.