MONASTERY OF NEAMȚ
Read moreThis is perhaps the most beautiful monastery in Moldavia. Many see it as a perfect synthesis of Moldavian religious architecture, with its harmonious proportions, octagonal tower and Gothic windows. It is located around 16 km west of Târgu Neamț, in a superb natural, wooded setting. At the entrance, a large, round building, reminiscent of a giant bell, stands out. In fact, it's a baptistery, built in 1847 and richly decorated inside in the 1970s. The monastery was built in 1497 by the great voivode Ștefan cel Mare. The church, 40 meters long and 25 meters high, was erected on the site of an older one, weakened by earthquakes. Its stone and brick façade is remarkable. The stonework of the surrounding arcades is identical, and the overall effect is superb. The interior paintings have often been restored, but some are still period. The circular wooden balcony, the flowers and the trees all add to the majesty of the site. In the Middle Ages, this vast complex was an important cultural center. Many religious works were built here. Some are still preserved in its gigantic 18,000-volume library, while others can be seen in the museum. The monastery also became an important landowner, with many peasants working for it, giving it a certain political power. The great annual pilgrimage takes place on Ascension Day.
NECULAI POPA MUSEUM
Read more10 km south of Târgu Neamț, in the village of Târpești, here's a lively, colorful museum well worth a stop. In a superb traditional carved wooden house, a variety of objects are on display: New Year masks, sculptures, naive paintings and also a few archaeological pieces, objects produced or collected by Neculai Popa, an artist and collector with a passion for folklore. Passed away in 2010, this much-loved local figure shared his passion with his son, himself an artist, and his daughter, who can give you a tour in French.
BUFFALO RESERVE
Read moreThe Dragoș Vodă bison(zimbri) reserve lies 15 km west of Târgu Neamț, at the entrance to the Vânători Neamț nature park. Created in 1968, it was home to the first bison reintroduced to Romania in captivity. Today, it still holds a few specimens. Others have been released into the wild, but some, living in semi-liberty, can also be seen. You can also meet other animals, such as deer and peacocks. The nature park team offers safaris to observe the bison in their natural habitat.
SECU MONASTERY
Read moreThis all-white monastery was built in 1602 by the boyar Nestor Ureche and rebuilt in 1825 after a fire. The Church of St. John the Baptist is distinguished by the addition of Wallachian elements, a style accentuated by 19th-century renovations. At that time, a veranda was also added and the enclosure reinforced. The site has been beautifully renovated, and you'll want to visit all the little monastic cells lining the flower-filled wooden balconies. Good news: you can even sleep in them! The museum exhibits embroidery, religious objects, carpets and old books.
MONASTERY OF HORAIŢA
Read more25 km south of Târgu Neamț, in the direction of Piatra Neamț, this pretty monastery of monks is located in a secluded and superb spot, in the heart of the forest. The complex was founded in the 18thcentury but extensively restored in 1867. Its imposing church features a blend of Byzantine, Moldavian and Transylvanian styles. Take a path through the forest and after 1.5 km you'll come to the Horaicioara hermitage and Lake Cuejdel, one of the country's largest natural dam lakes, formed a few decades ago by successive landslides.