Neamț Citadel
Târgu Neamț, Neamț County · Moldavia
About Neamț Citadel
Neamț Citadel (also often called Cetatea Neamțului) sits on the Timuș rock, at around 480 m above sea level, on the north-western edge of the town of Târgu Neamț. From here you look out over the whole Neamț basin and the road that once led across to Transylvania. The original fort, a quadrangle with walls almost 3 m thick and corner towers, was built under Prince Peter Mușat and first appears in a document dated 2 February 1395, issued during King Sigismund of Luxembourg's campaign in Moldavia.
Stephen the Great raised the walls, added an outer enclosure with four semicircular bastions on the north side, deepened the defensive ditch and built the access bridge on stone piers. The works paid off at once: in the summer of 1476, after the Battle of Valea Albă, Sultan Mehmed II besieged the citadel for about a week and left without taking it. The fortress was burnt and rebuilt several times and was abandoned in the early 18th century, after Prince Mihai Racoviță ordered its destruction.
It was restored in 2007–2009, and since July 2009 it has housed the Neamț Citadel Museum, run by the Neamț National Museum Complex.
What you can see
You walk up a path through the woods to the long bridge on tall stone piers, which crosses the ditch straight into the outer courtyard between Stephen the Great's bastions. From there a Gothic gateway leads into the Mușatin fort, with its paved inner courtyard, well and arcaded galleries.
More than 20 rooms on two levels have been fitted out around the courtyard: the council and judgment hall, the armoury, the ladies' chamber, the Saint Nicholas chapel, the kitchen, the mint, the dungeon and a lapidarium, some with costumed mannequins and finds from the archaeological digs. From the southern walls you can see the town and, on clear days, the line of the Eastern Carpathians.
- The access bridge on tall stone piers, built by Stephen the Great across the defensive ditch.
- The four semicircular bastions of the outer enclosure, seen from the path at the foot of the walls.
- The inner courtyard of the Mușatin fort, with its well and arcaded galleries.
- The Saint Nicholas chapel, with its painted iconostasis, and the armoury.
- The view from the walls over Târgu Neamț and the Neamț basin.
Good to know before you go
- Getting there
By car: the citadel is on the north-western edge of Târgu Neamț; drive up Aleea Cetății to the car park by the stadium, beyond which cars are not allowed. It is ~45 km from Piatra Neamț, ~70 km from Suceava and ~120 km from Iași.
Public transport: buses and minibuses from Piatra Neamț, Iași and Suceava to the Târgu Neamț bus station; from there it is ~2 km to the foot of the hill (taxi or on foot), then the climb up to the citadel.
- Where to park
The public car park at the foot of the hill, next to the stadium, is run by the town and is paid (~4 lei/hour for cars, higher rates for minibuses and coaches). It also has a tourist information centre and stalls selling crafts. From the car park it is a ~10–20-minute walk up a paved path through the woods to the bridge.
- Fees & discounts
Adults 24 lei, students and adults in a group 12 lei, pre-school children and pupils 6 lei. The photography fee is 20 lei and the filming fee 25 lei. Tickets are sold at the entrance ticket office.
- Rules
There is a separate fee for taking photos and another for filming. Cars cannot drive up to the citadel. The route has climbs, narrow stairs and uneven floors, so wear comfortable shoes; a pushchair is hard to use inside.
- Facilities
Tourist information centre in the car park at the foot of the hill · toilets by the bridge · souvenir shop
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