Places

The Styrcea mansion, from Văleni Commune (Neamţ), has in recent years regained its splendor that it had at the end of the 19th century, thanks to a restoration project initiated and supported by the owner of the ensemble, Michael Edward David of Styrcea. Moreover, the restoration project won the first prize at the 2018 edition of the National Architecture Biennale. Descendant of an ancient noble family (Stîrce, Stîrcea or Styrcea), Baron Michael Styrcea (British and Romanian citizen) recovered his property in Văleni commune in 2009 (property confiscated by the communists in 1948) and, starting from 2012, started the restoration project of the mansion, according to archive images from the beginning of the 20th century. IMPORTANT: The location is currently not open to the general public, but it can be admired and photographed from the outside.

"Axial, or County Road 155F, is, without exaggeration, a miracle of a road, one that starts from Izvorul Muntelui and crosses the woods at the foot of Ceahlău, winding above the reservoir from Bicaz, the "Sea among the mountains", as it say the locals." the new axial road on the Ceahlău Massif is presented in this article published by Adevărul. The author of the article continues "...it leads to the resort of Durău, under the ridges of the massif. Moreover, from Axial you can go up to the heights of the mountain, on the Lutul Roşu, Poiana Maicilor and Jgheabul cu Hotar trails, the first being the most accessible. County road DJ 155F was rehabilitated two years ago, with 50 million RON, with funds obtained by the Neamţ County Council from the National Local Development Plan program. It shortens the path to the resort by about 70 km, compared to the "classic" national road DN 15, which is located on the left bank of the lake, starting from the dam at Bicaz - Poiana Largului viaduct - Ceahlău commune." IMPORTANT: The total length of the road between the resorts of Izvorul Muntelui and Durău is approximately 25 km, but we recommend that you contact the Ceahlău National Park administration to check if it is open to the general public, especially during periods when the weather is unfavorable.

Durău Residence is located in Piatra-Neamț and offers accommodation with free WiFi and free private parking. All accommodation units include a relaxation area, a flat-screen TV with satellite channels and a private bathroom with a shower and a hairdryer. Some units have a terrace and/or balcony with city or mountain views.

Gallery Loft is located in the center of Piatra-Neamț, offering free WiFi. The apartments have a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom with a shower, hairdryer and slippers. Some units include a kitchen with a refrigerator.

Accommodation Ceahlau Hotel, 3 Stefan cel Mare Square, in the very heart of the city, 80% restored, available with modernized rooms, is offering European quality at Romanian prices. It puts at the disposal of the tourists 2**and 3*** single, double room, 7 apartments, breakfast buffet included, 3 classic restaurants, terrace, bar and night-club. Impeccable service, concern for the smallest detail. Restaurant/bar On the ground floor you will find 1 bar and 2 restaurants "Boema" and "White" Saloon with live music, every evening, Romanian and international cuisine. Breakfast buffet is being served at the restaurant "Blue", on the ground floor of the hotel from 6:30 a.m. till 10:30 a.m. On the 12 th floor of the hotel there is a night-club, from 10 p.m. until 4 a.m., where you can find the most beautiful dancers. This place has a great view giving on the city. We can satisfy everybody, the offer being friendly for big but also small budgets.

The Ancuței Inn is a well-known tourist inn located along one of the main European roads crossing Romania (E85), at a distance of 27 km from the Roman municipality and 40 km from the Piatra-Neamț municipality. As for location, it is in Tupilați commune. The inn was built at the beginning of the 18th century (year 1718, as it is written on the plaque placed at the entrance to the inn). It offered a stopping place for merchants traveling to Roman, Suceava or Iași. The Ancuței Inn became famous by placing here the action from the volume Hanu-Ancuței (composed of 9 stories), published in 1928 by the great Romanian writer Mihail Sadoveanu (1880-1961). Currently, the Ancuței Inn is one of the most visited restaurants in the county. It is also good to know that there are accommodation spaces here, but also that various private events or for the general public are organized.

The Şerbești Inn is a former tourist inn, built in the 17th-18th centuries in the village of Şerbești (today the village of Ștefan cel Mare in Neamț County). The Şerbești inn was included in the List of Historical Monuments in Neamț County in 2004. According to tradition, this place was built in the 17th century, during the reign of Vasile Lupu (1634-1653). By marrying Mrs. Tudosca, the daughter of the great nobleman Costea Bucioc, Vasile Lupu had become the owner of half of the village of Şerbești. In 1637 he built a church there.   The inn was built in the center of the village, halfway between Tupilați (where the Ancuței Inn is located) and Piatra Neamț, on the right side of the county road. It served as a stopping place for merchants' shacks and vagrants. The inn building had thick walls of unhewn stone and two monumental entrances with heavy, pointed gates. In order to protect the inn from the nocturnal attacks of robbers, the windows were reduced to the size of a simple rampart, and the gates were fenced from the inside with bars or beams.   During the First World War, the roof of the inn burned down, but it was rebuilt afterwards. The inn in Şerbești operated until the establishment of the communist regime and the nationalization of the properties. After the nationalization, the inn was transformed into a warehouse, it was later abandoned and left to ruin. In 1989, the authors of the monographic work "Traditions of Romanian Hospitality. Through the Inns of Iași" (Ed. Sport-Turism, Bucharest, 1989) found that the stone walls were kept intact, and the inn could be renovated without too much expense. Currently, the inn is in a process of restoration and enhancement, through a project of European funds.

Located at the exit from Piatra-Neamț towards Bicaz, 15 minutes from the city center, Hotel Ayan offers a wide range of services, of impeccable quality, to tourists who come here for business or to spend their holidays. Ideal location, exclusive ambience and exceptional hospitality 22 rooms, 4 apartment, 65 places

Hotel Oscar is an accommodation and catering establishment located in one of the most beautiful areas of Moldova - Piatra-Neamț. Hotel Oscar is located at the exit from Piatra-Neamt, towards the city of Bicaz, in the  Alexandru cel Bun village and only 5 km from the city center (15 minutes by car). The hotel offers free private parking and free WiFi internet access throughout the property. All rooms have their own bathroom, flat-screen TV with cable channels and offer mountain or lake views. Our guests can dine in the hotel restaurant.

Lacul Cuejdel este cel mai mare lac de baraj natural din țară și unul din cele mai tinere, fiind format în urma unor alunecări masive de teren, pe o suprafață de aproximativ 35 ha în urmă cu aproximativ trei decenii. Alunecările de teren succesive s-au produs între anii 1978 -1991, cauzele fiind precipitațiile abundente și un cutremur de pământ. Date fiind structura rocilor din zonă și înclinația mare a pantei, nu este exclus ca în viitor să se producă și alte fenomene și să continue formarea de lacuri. Lacul are o suprafaţă de 12 ha, 1 km lungime, 102 m lăţimea medie şi aproximativ 7,5 m adâncime. Datorită formei sale mai este numit şi Lacul Crucii. Pitorescul peisajelor și sălbăticia locurilor fac din acest colț de rai o atracție pentru toți iubitorii de natură și de călătorii, dar mai ales pentru pasionații de fotografie. În anul 2004 zona a fost declarată arie protejată de interes național. Rezervația Naturală Lacul Cuejdel cuprinde luciul de apă și suprafețe forestiere adiacente. Rezervația se află pe teritoriul Ocolului Silvic Gârcina și este administrată de Direcția Silvică Neamț. E bine de știut că în rezervație sunt interzise camparea, focul deschis, pescuitul sportiv. De asemenea, în prezent nu mai este permis accesul auto până la lac, dar sunt posibile oricând drumeții pe jos sau cu bicicleta. Recomandările privind comportamentul turiştilor se regăsesc şi pe panouri informative. În cazul grupurilor organizate mai mari de 10 persoane trebuie solicitat un aviz de acces de la Ocolul Silvic Gârcina. (tel/fax: 0233242270 sau e-mail: gircina@neamt.rosilva.ro) La Lacul Cuejdel se poate ajunge pe cel puțin două trasee, distanţa de la Piatra-Neamţ până la lac fiind de aproximativ 25 de km. Cel mai cunoscut traseu este cel prin comuna Gârcina, sat Cuejdiu. De la bariera unde se poate lăsa mașina se ajunge la lac în aproximativ o oră – o oră și jumătate, traseul fiind marcat şi destul de ușor de parcurs. A doua variantă este prin comuna Crăcăoani, traversând satele Magazia și Cracăul Negru. Acest traseu poate fi parcurs atât pe jos cât şi cu bicicleta. 

Nicknamed the "Sea of the Mountains", Izvorul Muntelui from Neamț county is the largest human-made lake on the inland rivers of Romania and the only inland lake on which "Navy Day" is celebrated. The lake is about 35 km long, at the foot of the Ceahlău Massif, the volume of water supported by the impressive dam built in the 1950s-1960s can reach up to 1250 million cubic meters.

The lakes of Pângărați and Vaduri are located on both sides of DN15, being two of the nine reservoirs on the stream of Bistrița. These were declared areas of special avifauna protection, providing favorable conditions for food and shelter necessary for wintering numerous migratory species, especially swans and wild ducks. It's really worth a stop here to admire them!

The Red Lake (Lacul Roșu) is a natural dam lake formed by the collapse of a slope due to the earthquake on January 23, 1838, with a magnitude of 6.9. It is located at the foot of Hășmașul Mare Mountain, near the Gorges of Bicaz, at the intersection of Neamț and Harghita counties, at a distance of 10 km from Bicaz-Chei (Neamț) and 26 km from Gheorgheni (Harghita). The Red Lake also became an important tourist resort over time. The surroundings of the lake have a pleasant microclimate, particularly beneficial for treating states of physical and mental exhaustion, insomnia, neurasthenia. The multiannual average temperature is 8°C, above the 6°C average of intramontane depressions. The valley is practically protected from the winds, the air is particularly clean, rich in natural aerosols. The picturesque surroundings offer excellent conditions for those looking for sources of rapid natural regeneration. 

From a geographical point of view, Lake Vaduri in Neamț is located at an altitude of 350 m, along the river Bistrița, with Stanisoarei Mountains to the north and Gosmanu Mountains to the south. It is a reservoir formed in 1966 with the purpose of producing electricity. Currently, it belongs to the domain and is operated by S.C. Hidroelectrica S.A. - "Piatra-Neamț" Bistrița Hydropower Branch. 

Lake Veselaru was formed in 1940, having a length of 72 m, a width of 55 m, a maximum depth of 12 m and an area of about 3000 sq m (0.3 ha). Of course, all these dimensions change depending on the amount of precipitation. Therefore, the lake is not very big, especially if we compare it with Cuiejdel Lake or the Red Lake, also natural dam lakes. But, even if it is small, it has a special charm because its appearance is very wild and, although there is no path, you can walk around it and you can see the trunks of trees coming out of the water, just like at the Red Lake. Directions Lake Veselaru is located in the commune of Piatra Şoimului, more precisely, in the immediate vicinity of the village of Neguleşti, approximately 23 km from Piatra-Neamţ. From the national road DN15, the one that connects Bacău to Piatra-Neamţ, at the roundabout in the town of Roznov, turn right towards Tazlău, but immediately after the bridge over the Bistriţa river, you must turn right again. There will be a bifurcation with a sign, towards Luminiş and Neguleşti to the left. The road to this lake is not marked, but it can be found quite easily. After you pass the village of Luminiş, after a wide curve to the left, you enter Neguleşti, and on the left is a wooden fence with horizontal slats that encloses a large area, without any construction. Immediately after the fence ends, go left into the meadow of the Iapa stream, cross the stream on a bridge and you will see a small stone house. A forest road goes up through the forest next to it. After a while, this road forks and you have to take it to the right. You will climb for about half an hour to the lake. The photos in the gallery should give you even more landmarks to orient and guide you to this natural attraction. Photo credit: Daniela Ursu

"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 monastery is located on the valley of the stream Agapia and is surrounded everyway by high mountains and secular forests and on the bottom by orchard, flowers gardens that adorn nuns yards and houses creating a unique landscape. Agapia Monastery is adorned with painted saints made by Nicolae Grigorescu between years 1858-1861.

The "All Saints" monastery in Almaş is built on the site of an older monastic settlement whose community settled in the Neamţ lands since the 17th century, under the leadership of the hermit Vasile Almaş. The bell tower, which in the past protected the entrance to the premises, and a peasant-type house from 1725, which today houses a chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas, are still preserved from the old buildings.

Bisericani Monastery is an orthodox monastery located in the village of Bisericani, Alexandru cel Bun commune. The monastery is located 12 km west of the town of Piatra-Neamţ, on the Piatra Neamţ - Bicaz road. The road going up, with many serpentines, is of particular beauty, with Bistriţa Valley on the right, after which follows the chain of mountains covered with conifer forests.

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.

The settlement named after "The Change of Face" and "The Good Faithful Voivode Stephen the Holy and the Great" was built on a plateau of the Ceahlău Massif, being surrounded by large rocks. The small monastery is located in the immediate vicinity of the Dochia Hut.  ADDITIONAL INFORMATION From the most remote times, around Mount Ceahlău there were numerous hermitages or caves with hermits, monks and nuns. Some were consumed by fire, snow avalanches, or rocks falling on top of them. Only Durău Monastery survived the times. The toponymy of the mountain and the places around it shows the presence of hermits and monks since ancient times and is recorded by documents since the 15th century. It is difficult to know when the first hermits came to these places and what was their origin. We can easily believe that they were native monks returned from Mount Athos or monks from the great monasteries of Moldavia. Some toponyms that remind us of them have been preserved, others have changed or disappeared. We remember: "The Foot of the Hermit", "The Pit of the Hermits", "Gideon's Cave", "At the cells", "Vucol's Cave", "Iosaf's Cell", "Mothers' Meadow", "Panaghia" (from the Greek, "The one in all Holy" - in honor of the Virgin Mary), "Monk Stream", "Ghenadie's Meadow", "Seraphim's Foot, "Gherman's Cave", "Altar Stone", "Gideon's Wide Stone", " Martin's Creek",  etc. There is also another kind of toponymy: "Shepherd's Stone", "The soldier’s hat", "Budu's Tower", "Pharaoh", "The Great Enclosure" ‒ also called "Throne of the Gods".

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.

Neamţ Monastery is a monk orthodox monastery, located in village Vânători Neamţ. The monastery is certified in year 1407 but the roots are from 12th century. The monastery was built by Petru I Muşat(1375-1391), that built the first stone church, today vanished but on the same location existed a small wooden church, called White Church, built by monks a century before. The present church from monastery's precinct was founded by ruler Ştefan the Great at the end of 15th century.

What is known today as the Nechit Monastery was, at the beginning, a place of retreat for monks who wanted to perfect their union with Christ. As the name suggests, the first inhabitant of these lands was Nichita the Hermit. He was followed by a host of other hermits whose names inspired the entire toponymy of the place: Samson's stream, Jacob's river, the springs of Saint Chiriac. Almost 800 years later, God's providence fulfills with the old Zenovie Ghidescu the prophecy of his great-grandmother: "If something happens to you, go to the foundation of our nation, to Nechit." And so we get a little closer to the way the monastery looks today...

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.

The monastery of Războieni was built in 1496, to honor the Moldavian soldiers who fell in the battle of Valea Albă in 1476. Then, Stephen the Great lost a lot of Moldavian soldiers and 13 of the great governors of the country. The uniqueness of the place among the foundations of the Stephen the Great lies in the fact that it is actually a mausoleum that shelters the bones of those who fell in battle under the altar and pronaos. The monastery is dedicated to the Holy Archangels Michael and Gabriel.

The Secu Monastery is a hearth of spiritual life whose age is almost 500 years. On the feudal domain of the Neamț Citadel, on the valley of the Secu river, around the year 1500, a group of hermits settled who, in time, founded in 1530 under the leadership of Hieroschimonach Zosima, a monk from the Neamț Monastery, the hermitage with the same name: Zosima's Hermitage . Ruler Petru Rareș built the church of the Zosima Hermitage on the site of the current church of the monastery cemetery. The hermitage was fenced with a stone wall in 1550 by Elena, the voivode's wife, and her sons, a small part of which is still preserved at the entrance to the monastery, next to the current church of the cemetery, where the entrance gate to the hermitage was and its bell tower. The same ruler Petru Rares, in his first reign, strengthened his control over the lands that belonged to the estate of the Neamț Fortress, donating these lands for the use of the monks from the valley of the Secu river. Bishop Melchisedec Ștefănescu, speaking about the beginnings of the Secu Monastery, recalls that until 1910 there was on the wall of the monastery bell tower, in the niche where there is now a fresco of St. John the Baptist, the original painting from the church built by Voivode Petru Rares, painting which was damaged by grinding due to the harshness of the times. During the time of voivodes Alexandru Lăpușneanul (1552-1561 and 1564-1568), Petru Șchiopu (1574-1579) and Aron Tiranul (1591-1595), the Zosima Hermitage received some donations for the use and maintenance of the hermit monks from these places. Towards the end of the 16th century, the Hermitage of Zosima experienced a special development, especially from an economic point of view: private grants are now supplemented with royal grants and confirmations, and the name of Abbot Dosoftei, one of Zosima's disciples, is often mentioned in the reasons for being close to the oldest and most powerful monks from the Neamț Monastery.

Sihăstria Monastery is located in the northern part of Neamț county, approximately 22 km from Târgu-Neamț.  The first foundation took place in 1655 by Metropolitan Varlaam Motoc, being carried out by the hermit Atanasie together with seven of his disciples. The church was destroyed over time and rebuilt in 1734, when Bishop Ghedeon of Roman rebuilt it in stone, on the site of the old one. In 1821 it was burned by the Turks and was rebuilt in 1824, with the support of Metropolitan Veniamin Costachi. The monastery attracted visitors from all over Romania who came to Father Archimandrite Cleopa, who was and is one of the most appreciated Romanian priests of all time. He died in 1998 leaving 16 volumes of teachings in a collection entitled "Father Cleopa is speaking to us". His tomb is in the premises of the Sihăstria Monastery and can be visited, next to the hermitage of Saint Cleopa.

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.

Stephen the Great was the most important ruler of Moldavia, but also a prominent personality in the history of Romania. He ruled his country for 47 years, from 1457 to 1504, during which time he distinguished himself as a statesman, diplomat and military leader. He won the throne when he was not even 20 years old, out of a desire to avenge his father's death. Due to the large number of places of worship founded, but also to the battles against the pagans, he was called Athlete of Christ and defender of Christianity since his lifetime. He was sanctified in 1992, being marked in the Orthodox Christian calendar on July 2, with the name Righteous Voivode Stephen the Great and Holy. In Neamț there are 7 objects whose existence is linked to the name of the voivode: the large church from the Neamț Monastery, the Neamț Citadel, the Războieni Monastery, the Tower and the chapel of St. John the New from the Bistrita Monastery, the Royal Court Ensemble with the Nativity of St. John church The Baptist from Piatra Neamț, the New Roman Citadel and the Tazlău Monastery. ABOUT THE TAZLAU MONASTERY Located at the foot of Măguria Tazlău, in the center of Tazlău commune, the monastery is considered the most imposing in the entire Neamț county. Apart from the monastery church, here are still preserved the ruins of the princely house and the defensive wall built of river stone, which in some places still has the height of Stephen's time. Until recently, an extensive restoration project was carried out at the monastery, which involved both the rehabilitation of the buildings and the archaeological research. It is good to know that in the basement of the monastery there are several retreat tunnels that have never been studied.

It is the biggest nuns monastery from Romania, founded by nun Olimpiada in year 1785.

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/ 

Aris Meridian in Piatra-Neamț opened on January 1, 2018 and has a capacity of 17 rooms (16 of them have a maximum capacity of 3 people, and the 17th room offers a maximum capacity of 5 people). The building has 2 kitchens and a dining room. The rooms are equipped with color TV, cable TV, private bathroom, non-stop hot water, central heating, WI-FI internet.

Cochet Accommodation is located in the city of Piatra-Neamt, on Bulevardul Traian no. 100, in front of  the “Gheorghe Cartianu” Technical College, at a distance of about 2 km from the city center. Cochet Accommodation offers private rooms with free WiFi, where guests can enjoy the terrace, a bar and a meal at the restaurant. We offer you 9 rooms and 3 modernly furnished apartments, equipped with LCD-LED TVs and unlimited high-speed Internet access. Each room has its own bathroom and has been equipped and arranged in such a way as to offer you all the comfort you need for a pleasant vacation.

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.