Neamt County is an area where at the shelter of mountains and forests people from these parts built churches, hermitages and villages.

Among some of the most valuables and oldest creations of traditional architecture from this area are the wood hermitages built in the centuries XVI – XIX. Although the local architecture is similar to the architecture from the entire Moldova region there are some distinct features. The wood hermitages that still exist today are a legacy of the religious life that once was in Neamt County. Among these hermitages we can talk about Hartesti from 1683, Itrinesti from 1728, Savinesti from 1820 and Barcu – Gosmani from 1819.

There are also some hermitages located near Piatra Neamt that were influenced in their architecture from the town where the ruler Stefan cel Mare built his royal court. There are hermitages like Valeni from XVI century, Sarata from 1780, Vanatori from 1776 and Girov commune at Bahna from 1736 and Contesti from 1828.

These religious settlements were built by artisans and their craft is visible in the quality of this constructions that still exist today after hundreds of years.