Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Piatra Neamţ
POP 77,393
Up-and-coming, easy-going Piatra Neamţ (German Rock) sprawls in three directions
across a valley, gripped by forested mountains. Moldavia's third-biggest town, it clearly
has grand ambitions. Recent civic improvements have included a summertime faux-sand
beach and a new gondola line that merrily sways across the city skyline to Mt Cozla - site
of a small but expanding ski centre. The energetic local authorities have been so efficient,
in fact, that the Roma are now resettled out of town and mafia shootings occur only once
every other year.
Piatra Neamţ lies 43km south of Târgu Neamţ, surrounded to the east by rocky Pietrici-
ca Mountain, to the southwest by Cernegura Mountain and the artificial Lake Bâtca
Doamnei, and by Mt Cozla to the north. Locals are supremely proud of their burg, point-
ing out the distances that other Romanians will travel to partake in its nightlife, and that
they (and not Iaşi) have hosted European Champions League football matches. The town's
dotted with historic buildings attesting to its long and distinguished history (Ştefan cel
Mare founded a princely court here).
The Romanian enthusiasm for boulevards and roundabouts is also visible here. B-dul
Republicii leads north from Piaţa Mareşal Ion Antonescu towards Piaţa Ştefan cel Mare,
the city's heart, where stands a statue of Ştefan cel Mare. The Telegondola running up to
Mt Cozla is near the bus and train stations.
