Târgu Neamţ

Târgu Neamţ is a town in Neamţ County, Romania, on the Neamţ River. Three villages are administered by the town: Blebea, Humuleşti and Humuleştii Noi.

Originally a market town, hence its name (in Romanian "târg" = market), it had an important role in Moldavian culture. It was first mentioned in a late-14th century document.

The name neamţ is derived from the Slavic word nemeti meaning "snows". In many Slavic languages, nemeti also means "German", as Germans could not understand Slavic speakers when the cultures first met. "Neamţ" is also a generic name for the German people in the Romanian language. This may lead to speculation of a German foundation of Târgu Neamţ, according to which Saxon colonists crossed the Carpathians from the Bistriţa area and built a commercial township. Some Romanian historians, including B. P. Haşdeu consider that Târgu Neamţ was probably a Teutonic settlement from the 13th century, when the Teutonic Order made incursions from Transylvania against the Cumanic peoples that were living in Moldavia. Nowadays, historians disagree with this possibility mostly because of the long-lasting influences of the communist-nationalistic historiography which refused to accept the town was anything else than a Romanian-founded settlement.

Târgu Neamţ is a good base for trips to the Neamţ Monastery, Secu, Agapia and Văratec Monastery. It is close to Ceahlău, Durău and Valea Bistriţei. Right across Ozana river lays the village of Humuleşti, the birth place of one of Romania most famous and loved writers, Ion Creangă.

• Less than 10 kilometers from the town there are several Romanian Orthodox monasteries, including Neamţ Monastery (Mânăstirea Neamţului), founded by Ştefan cel Mare and Agapia Monastery. Right before Neamţ Monastery there is a small animal reservation, "Zimbrărie", housing a herd of wisent, the European bisons that once roamed these mountains.
• The Neamţ Fortress (Cetatea Neamţului) was built in the 14th century by Voivode Petru I (possibly on the ruins of a smaller Teutonic castle), and is located on the north bank of the Neamţ river.
• Ion Creangă memorial house in Humuleşti: This is the house where the writer was born and where he spent his childhood. The stories from Ion Creangă's masterpiece Amintiri din copilărie ("Memories of My Boyhood") revolve around Humuleşti, Târgu Neamţ and in the surrounding villages.
• Monumentul Eroilor (Heroes' Monument): an obelisk that commemorates the Romanian soldiers from World War I is found on Dealul Pleşu near the Pometea suburb. It commands views of the town and the mountains.