PIATRA NEAMŢ

PIATRA NEAMTPIATRA NEAMTAT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW MILLENIUMAT THE BEGINNING OF A NEW MILLENIUM

Piatra Neamt, yesterday, today and Piatra Neamt, yesterday, today and tomorrowtomorrow   In a cloud of dust, on the pavement full of bumps, In a cloud of dust, on the pavement full of bumps, on which the dirty pools formed immemorial times on which the dirty pools formed immemorial times reflect the Pietricica peak, on the “narrow street”, a reflect the Pietricica peak, on the “narrow street”, a man strives to put straight a wheel of his cart, getting in man strives to put straight a wheel of his cart, getting in the way of three second-hand clothes merchants and a the way of three second-hand clothes merchants and a bus. The traffic jam is an image from my childhood; an bus. The traffic jam is an image from my childhood; an image turned into a picture that today represents one of image turned into a picture that today represents one of the most modern mountain-cities in Romania.the most modern mountain-cities in Romania.

  

• Piatra Neamţ lies in the Piatra Neamţ lies in the Bistriţa River Valley, surrounded by mountains -  Valley, surrounded by mountains - Pietricica (590 m), Cozla (679 m), Cernegura (852 m), Bâtca Doamnei (462 m) Pietricica (590 m), Cozla (679 m), Cernegura (852 m), Bâtca Doamnei (462 m) and Cârloman (617 m), at an average height of 345 m (1,131.89 and Cârloman (617 m), at an average height of 345 m (1,131.89 ft).).

• The city is located 350 km north of the capital city of The city is located 350 km north of the capital city of Bucharest, in the , in the historical region ofhistorical region ofMoldavia. The nearest airport is . The nearest airport is Bacău, situated at 60 km , situated at 60 km south. Piatra Neamţ is linked by Romanian railway trunk number 509 to south. Piatra Neamţ is linked by Romanian railway trunk number 509 to Bucharest and Bucharest and Iaşi, and by DN15 national road to, and by DN15 national road toBacău (therefore  (therefore DN2 to  to Bucharest), Iaşi, Bucharest), Iaşi, Suceava, and , and Târgu Mureş ( (Transylvania).).

• The city is informally divided in several districts (in Romanian: The city is informally divided in several districts (in Romanian: cartierecartiere))

HistoryHistoryThe area around Piatra Neamţ is one of the The area around Piatra Neamţ is one of the oldest inhabited areas in Romania. The oldest oldest inhabited areas in Romania. The oldest traces of human civilisation in the present traces of human civilisation in the present territory date back to the higher territory date back to the higher Paleolithic, , about 100,000 years BCE. The about 100,000 years BCE. The Cucuteni culture, whose development lasted approximately one , whose development lasted approximately one thousand years (ca. 3600-2600 BCE) was thousand years (ca. 3600-2600 BCE) was attested in the territory of Neamţ county by a attested in the territory of Neamţ county by a remarkable number of settlements (approx. remarkable number of settlements (approx. 150), archaeological diggings unearthing 150), archaeological diggings unearthing important museum collections of important museum collections of Aeneolithic artifacts. Archaeologists have also discovered  artifacts. Archaeologists have also discovered objects here dating back to the Neolithic Period objects here dating back to the Neolithic Period and the and the Bronze Age (about 1900-1700 BCE). (about 1900-1700 BCE).

Excavations just outside the city revealed the ruins of a large Excavations just outside the city revealed the ruins of a large Dacian city, Petrodava, mentioned by Greek geographer  city, Petrodava, mentioned by Greek geographer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. The whole compound had its  in the 2nd century. The whole compound had its heyday between the first century BCE and the first century CE. heyday between the first century BCE and the first century CE. Standing out is the citadel at Standing out is the citadel at Bîtca Doamnei which contains  which contains shrines resembling those identified in the shrines resembling those identified in the Orăştiei Mountains. . As far as the existence of a local leader is concerned, historians As far as the existence of a local leader is concerned, historians tend to suggest the identification of the Kingdom of Dicomes in tend to suggest the identification of the Kingdom of Dicomes in the very political centre at Petrodava. The complex of the very political centre at Petrodava. The complex of strongholds without peer in Moldavia and strongholds without peer in Moldavia and Wallachia is evidence  is evidence as to a powerful political and military centre both in as to a powerful political and military centre both in Burebista’s ’s time and in the period that preceded the reign oftime and in the period that preceded the reign ofDecebalus. . The settlement was documented in the 15th century as Piatra The settlement was documented in the 15th century as Piatra lui Craciun, or Camena, a lui Craciun, or Camena, a market town..

EconomyEconomyThe city's industries include a fertilizer plant, a pulp and paper The city's industries include a fertilizer plant, a pulp and paper mill, and several food-processing plants. In the city are also mill, and several food-processing plants. In the city are also located an agricultural machinery plant (located an agricultural machinery plant (Mecanica CeahlăuMecanica Ceahlău), a ), a pharmaceutical plant (pharmaceutical plant (PlantavorelPlantavorel) and two paper manufacturers.) and two paper manufacturers.The city's main industrial park is situated 11 km south, in the The city's main industrial park is situated 11 km south, in the Săvineşti area. During the communist period, the  area. During the communist period, the Săvineşti Săvineşti platformplatform was one of the most important chemical plants in  was one of the most important chemical plants in Romania and the site of a research institute.Romania and the site of a research institute.In the recent period, the most important Romanian commercial In the recent period, the most important Romanian commercial brands originating from Piatra Neamţ are brands originating from Piatra Neamţ are RifilRifil (synthetic fibers  (synthetic fibers manufacturer), manufacturer), Altex ( (Media Galaxy) (TV, hi-fi, home appliances ) (TV, hi-fi, home appliances national dealer), national dealer), ro:Köber''Köber''(paints manufacturer), (paints manufacturer), Amicii-Kubo Ice Cream (ice cream producer) and  (ice cream producer) and DasimpexDasimpex (mobile  (mobile phones dealer).phones dealer).There are 4 local TV stations (TV M, 1TV, TeleM, Actual TV ), 3 FM There are 4 local TV stations (TV M, 1TV, TeleM, Actual TV ), 3 FM radio stations and several newspapers.radio stations and several newspapers.

SportsSports

FC Ceahlăul Piatra Neamţ is the local football (soccer) team; best  is the local football (soccer) team; best performance : 4th round in performance : 4th round in UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1999 after two  in 1999 after two matchesversus matchesversus Juventus Torino. Currently it plays in the first . Currently it plays in the first national league - national league - Liga I..

Former Fibrex Săvineşti, actually HCM Piatra Neamţ is the local Former Fibrex Săvineşti, actually HCM Piatra Neamţ is the local men's men's handball team, three times champions of Romania and two  team, three times champions of Romania and two times winners of Handball Romania's Cup.times winners of Handball Romania's Cup.

VC Unic Piatra Neamţ is the local women's  is the local women's volleyball team. team.Piatra Neamţ is the residence of Constantin "Ticu" Lăcătuşu, the first Piatra Neamţ is the residence of Constantin "Ticu" Lăcătuşu, the first

Romanian Romanian alpinist who reached the top of  who reached the top of Mount Everest..The Piatra Neamţ Equestrian Stadium (Baza Hipică) is the host of The Piatra Neamţ Equestrian Stadium (Baza Hipică) is the host of

several several show jumping and  and dressage international competitions. international competitions.

People from Piatra Neamţ• Victor Brauner, painter, painter• Anda-Louise Bogza, soprano singer, soprano singer• Lascăr Vorel, painter, painter• Iulia Hălăucescu, painter, painter• Simona Vasiliu Chintila, painter, painter• Anton Vorel, , herbalist, pharmacist, pharmacist• Calistrat Hogaş, writer, writer• Constantin Lăcătuşu, mountain climber (first Romanian ascent on , mountain climber (first Romanian ascent on 

Mount Everest))• Bogdan Ţăruş, athlete, athlete• Luminiţa Dinu-Huţupan, handball player, handball player• Gheorghe Tadici, famous handball coach, famous handball coach• Vasile Trăistariu, painter, painter• Cristian Greţcu, humorist, humorist• Emil Calmanovici, industrialist and communist activist, industrialist and communist activist• Mihaela Rădulescu, TV host, TV host• Dan Ostahie, general manager of Altex RomaniaDan Ostahie, general manager of Altex Romania• Jan TausingerJan Tausinger• Robin Smith Ståhl, dramaturgeRobin Smith Ståhl, dramaturge• Adam Sträng, history professorAdam Sträng, history professor