Piatra Neamt, city in northeastern Romania, capital of Neamt County. Piatra Neamt lies in the Bistrita River Valley, surrounded by mountains, in an area of great natural beauty. The city's industries include a fertilizer plant, a pulp and paper mill, and several food-processing plants. Southeast of the city are large factories that produce synthetic fiber and nitrogen fertilizer. The city's attractions include an archaeological museum, which contains a famous collection of painted pottery from the Neolithic Period (about 8000-4000 BC); a theater; a natural science museum; and the Church of Saint John (1497-1498). The Bistrita Monastery, founded in the early 15th century, is 8 km (5 mi) west of the city.
Piatra Neamt is one of the oldest settlements in Romania. Archaeologists discovered objects here dating back to the Neolithic Period and the Bronze Age (about 1900-1700 BC). Excavations just outside the city revealed the ruins of a large Dacian city, Petrodava, mentioned by Greek geographer Ptolemy in the 2nd century. The settlement was documented in the 15th century as Piatra lui Craciun, or Camena, a market town. Population (1997 estimate) 125,121.
