It is the monument the town is named after: a fortress strengthened by Stephen the Great, with its access bridge on stone piers and a museum inside.
About the place
The citadel was built under Petru Mușat (1375–1391) and appears in a document from 1395. Stephen the Great raised the walls by 6–7 m and added an outer wall with four semicircular bastions and the access bridge on 11 stone piers. In 1476, after the battle of Valea Albă, Sultan Mehmed II’s army besieged it for eight days. In 1691 the garrison surrendered to the army of the Polish king Jan Sobieski, and in 1718 the Ottomans ordered Prince Mihai Racoviță to pull it down.
The citadel stands on a rocky spur at about 480 m, some 80 m above the Neamț river. It was consolidated in 1968–1972 and restored in 2007–2009; the museum inside opened on 4 July 2009. It is run by the Neamț National Museum Complex.
Good to know
- In winter (October–March) the citadel is open Tuesday to Sunday, 9 am–5 pm; in summer, 10 am–6 pm. It is closed on Mondays.
- From the car park you walk up a sloping path and cross the bridge to the gate; it can be slippery in winter, so wear good shoes.
- Taking photos inside costs an extra fee, according to the museum website. In July the Neamț Citadel Days bring medieval camps.
Opening hours
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 9–17 |
| Wednesday | 9–17 |
| Thursday | 9–17 |
| Friday | 9–17 |
| Saturday | 9–17 |
| Sunday | 9–17 |
Hours may change on public holidays. Check before you go.