Thetoponympiatra (meaning ‘rock’) was always part of the settlement's name throughout its history. It is also calledPiatra luiCrăciun (‘Christmas Rock’, thus also corresponding to the Hungarian name of the city, "Karácson-Kő"). It is also simply calledPiatra, to which the county nameNeamț (meaning ‘German’) was added.
Piatra Neamț lies in theBistrița River valley, surrounded by mountains — Pietricica (530 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 ft). The riverDoamna is a right tributary of the Bistrița; it flows into the Bâtca Doamnei Reservoir near Piatra Neamț.
The city is located 350 kilometres (217 miles) north ofBucharest, in the historical region ofMoldavia. The nearest airport isBacău, situated 60 km (37 miles) south. Piatra Neamț is linked byRomanian railways trunk number 509 toBacău (and from there byLine 500 to Bucharest), and byDN15 [ro] national road to Bacău (and from there byDN2 to Bucharest),Iași,Suceava, andTârgu Mureș in theTransylvania region.
Map of Piatra NeamțBâtca Doamnei Reservoir
The city is informally divided in several districts (in Romanian:cartiere):
1 Mai
Băcioaia
Centru
Ciritei
Dărmănești
Doamna
Gara Veche
Mărăței
Precista
Sarata
Speranța
Valea Viei
Văleni
Vânători
Of these, Ciritei, Doamna, and Văleni are formally separate villages administered by the municipality. There are plans to build two new districts, the larger of which will be on the site of the formerReconstrucția factory.
Excavations just outside the city revealed the ruins of a largeDacian city, Petrodava, mentioned by Greek geographerPtolemy in the 2nd century. The whole compound had its heyday between the first century BCE and the first century CE. Standing out is the citadel atBâtca Doamnei which contains shrines resembling those identified in theOrăștie Mountains. As far as the existence of a local leader is concerned, historians tend to suggest the identification of the Kingdom of Dicomes in the very political centre at Petrodava. The complex of strongholds without peer inMoldavia andWallachia is evidence as to a powerful political and military centre both inBurebista’s time and in the period that preceded the reign ofDecebalus. The settlement was documented in the 15th century as Piatra lui Crăciun, or Camena, amarket town.
The first urban settlements, which emerged underPetru I Mușat (1375–1391), were Piatra lui Crăciun,Roman, and Neamț. TheNeamț citadel, whose documentary attestation dates back to 2 February 1395, was also erected during the same consolidation period of the Moldavian principality east of the Carpathians. The Princely Court of Piatra Neamț is mentioned for the first time in a document dated 20 April 1491, to have been founded between 1468 and 1475, underStephen the Great, the Princely Cathedral being built in 1497–1498, and the 20 m (65.62 ft) tall Bell Tower in 1499.
According to the2011 census data, Piatra Neamț has a population of 85,055,[3] a decrease from the figure recorded at the 2002 census, making it the 24thlargest city in Romania. The 2002 census recorded 104,914 people living within the city of Piatra Neamț.[4] The ethnic makeup was as follows:
The city's industries include a fertilizer plant, a pulp and paper mill, and several food-processing plants. In the city are also located an agricultural machinery plant (Mecanica Ceahlău), a pharmaceutical plant (Plantavorel) and two paper manufacturers.
The city's main industrial park is situated 11 km (7 mi) south, in theSăvinești area. During the communist period, theSăvinești platform was one of the most important chemical plants in Romania and the site of a research institute. Today, the industrial facility is part of the Italian companyRadici Group, and it operates at low capacity.
Centru district, with Pietricica Hill
In recent times, the most important Romanian commercial brands originating from Piatra Neamț areRifil (synthetic fibers manufacturer),Altex (Media Galaxy) (TV, hi-fi, home appliances national dealer),Köber [ro] (paints manufacturer),Amicii-Kubo Ice Cream[5] (ice cream producer) andDasimpex (mobile phones dealer).
There are 4 local TV stations (TV M, 1TV, TeleM, Actual TV), 3 FM radio stations, and several newspapers, including online newspapers such as CityNeamț and Ziar Piatra Neamț.
One of thetrolleybuses that served the city until 2019, this being a secondhand Renault from France
Public transport in Piatra Neamț is managed mainly by S.C. Troleibuzul SA. Until 2019, the company operated bothtrolleybuses and motorbuses. Although the company's name still includes a reference to trolleybuses, the last trolleybus service was discontinued in September 2019,[6] the trolleybuses were put up for sale in March 2020,[7] and removal of theoverhead trolley wires began in June 2020.[8] The trolleybus system had opened in 1995.[8] The company now operates only motorbuses.
There are seven urban bus lines between the city's districts and the suburban communes ofDumbrava Roșie andSăvinești.
There are 18 bus lines which connect the suburbs with the city centre.
ThePiatra Neamț railway station is the main train station which serves Piatra Neamț. From there arrive and depart daily, 8 Regio trains on the route Piatra Neamț — Bacău and return, 4 Regio trains on the route Bicaz - Bacau and return, an Inter Regio train Piatra Neamț - Bucharest North (attachment to a train Suceava - Bucharest North in Bacău) and a train Regio Express Bicaz — Bucharest North (attached to a train Suceava - Bucharest North in Bacău).
Piatra Neamț is a road junction where DN15 intersects with DN15C and DN15D. Also, the city is served by threebus stations, whereintercity bus services between the city and other major Romanian cities start and terminate.
Piatra Neamț is home toTeatrul Tineretului (Youth's Theatre), the G. T. Kirileanu Library, and many cultural events, including theInternational Theatre Festival in the springtime, the classical music eventVacanțe muzicale (musical holidays) in the summertime and more folkloric festivals all year round.
ThePetru Rareș National College, "Calistrat Hogaș" national college, National College of Computer Science as well as "Victor Brauner" Fine Arts College are some of the most prestigious education centres in the Neamt county.
Starting with January 2009, Piatra Neamț is the host of a short film festival called "Filmul de Piatra" (derived from the name of the city "Piatra" which means stone (rock) and translated as "Stone-film Festival"). The 1st edition took place in the building of Teatrul Tineretului and other locations between 7th and 11 January 2009. The festival has a national short film competition (all genres) and awards each category. The agenda also includes selections of international shorts, awarded in major festivals throughout the world. Other special programmes include live concerts, skiing and workshops.
The city's main attractions are the natural environment of the area (the mountains and the lakes), the historical buildings, the museums, and the festivals. There are several projects in progress with the goal of transforming Piatra Neamț into a tourist destination in Romania; those projects include construction of a cable car and winter sports facilities. As of March 2022 there is a cable car service running from the railway station to the top of Cozla mountain.[9]
FormerFibrex Săvinești, actuallyHCM Piatra Neamț is the local men'shandball team, three times champions of Romania and two times winners of Handball Romania's Cup.VC Unic Piatra Neamț is the local women'svolleyball team.
Piatra Neamț is the residence ofConstantin "Ticu" Lăcătușu, the first Romanianalpinist who reached the top ofMount Everest.
The Piatra Neamț Equestrian Stadium (Baza Hipică) is the host of severalshow jumping anddressage international competitions.
In 1998 an asteroid was named after Piatra Neamț by Alfredo Caronia, an Italian amateur astronomer and co-discoverer of the asteroid, who lives in the city.[12][13]
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