Neamț Citadel

The citadel played a key role in Stephen III of Moldavia's defense system, along with Suceava, Hotin, Soroca, Orhei, Tighina, Chilia and Cetatea Albă.

Hasdeu, D. Onciul consider that - according to the papal bull of 1232 - the Teutonic Knights of Bârsa had built between 1211–1225 on the eastern slope of the Carpathians a castrum muntissimum which was later identified as the citadel.

The name might be related with the name of the district and later county of Neamț where later ( i.e. early 14th century) Saxon colonists settled in the nearby town of Baia (known then as Moldau).

The following works were carried out: modernization of the access road starting with  Ștefan cel Mare Street, 1 Decembrie Street and ending with Aleea Cetătii; restoration of the entire architectural ensemble; illumination of the access roads and the monument; construction of new buildings to meet the functional requirements; development of the three existing parking lots near the citadel; water supply and sewerage.

In order to prevent the enemies from approaching the walls of the fortress and to avoid placing catapults in the vicinity, Ștefan cel Mare cut the connection from the north ridge of the hill through a defense ditch.

The movable part was located on the portion of the bridge between the last pillar and the bastion wall and could be raised in case of danger by a pulley system, but once past it there were two traps with hatches, also known as "rattraps".

Initially, the fortress was reached by a road that went around the Cerdac peak, on which there were "părcane" (type of defensive structures), in the form of ditches reinforced with palisades.