Around the World: Targu Neamt
My travel in Romania was all a discovery. I had a very good travel guide, the Rough Guide, but it was not enough to prepare me to what I would find; most of the time I had to go by instinct, searching my treasure as an old fashioned explorer. Like for this fortress near Targu Neamt; it was not properly signed, there was only a small sign at the beginning of a mountain path. It was winter and I hadn't the right shoes to venture on a mountain path covered by snow, but nevertheless I did, and more I walked on the path, more I was questioning the wiseness of my actions. But then the fortress appeared, big and wonderful at the very top of the hill, overlooking the country beneath... It was a wonderful experience.
by Elisa, Targu Neamt, Romania, 2003
Around the Wor...
By Elisa Rolle
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Târgu Neamţ (also spelled Tîrgu Neamţ in Romanian language) is a town in Neamţ County, Romania, on the Neamţ river equally known as Ozana. It has, as of 2004[update], a population of about 20,000.
Originally a market town, hence its name (in Romanian "târg" = market), it had an important role in the 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.
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. (From Wikipedia)
by Elisa, Targu Neamt, Romania, 2003
Around the Wor...
By Elisa Rolle
Book Preview
Târgu Neamţ (also spelled Tîrgu Neamţ in Romanian language) is a town in Neamţ County, Romania, on the Neamţ river equally known as Ozana. It has, as of 2004[update], a population of about 20,000.
Originally a market town, hence its name (in Romanian "târg" = market), it had an important role in the 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.
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. (From Wikipedia)