Bicaz: Lake Izvorul Muntelui, Culture and Ceahlău

Bicaz can be explored through Lake Izvorul Muntelui and the history of the town. Water engineering, historic buildings, museum exhibits and the designated access route to Ceahlău offer different focal points for planning a stay.

Water and landscape

Lake Izvorul Muntelui is the largest artificial reservoir on Romania’s inland rivers. It was created on the Bistrița River between 1950 and 1960. The Bicaz Dam was also built during the same period, from 1950 to 1960; it is 435 m long and 127 m high.

The information about the lake, dam and river provides a clear geographical and technical orientation. Those comparing different days or focuses can consider the waterside landscape, culture and routes to Ceahlău separately, without having to combine them into a single excursion programme.

Culture and history

Casa Regală in Bicaz is a historic monument at Strada Barajului 4 and was built in 1912; as a holiday residence, it was intended for the royal family. The former Teatrul Sătesc “Ion Kalinderu” in Bicaz was built on the orders of King Carol I according to plans by the architect Carol Zane.

The permanent exhibition of the Bicaz Museum of History and Ethnography is divided into three sections. It covers the history of the Bistrița Valley as well as 102 paintings donated by the painter Iulia Hălăucescu. The ethnographic section displays woven textiles, elements of traditional dress and peasant furniture.

Neamț County is carrying out an investment project for the preservation, protection and promotion of the Bicaz Museum of History.

Nature and orientation

The visitor centre of Ceahlău National Park is located in Izvoru Muntelui, in the city of Bicaz in Neamț County. In December 2022, Bicaz was certified as a tourism destination of local interest.

When planning a hotel stay in Bicaz, you can compare travel dates, room categories and cancellation policies. Such a comparison structures the selection around your own timeframe and preferred type of stay; hotels can be compared before booking on the basis of the same details.

Arrival and routes

Bicaz can be reached via DN 15 from Piatra-Neamț, as well as via DN 17B and DN 15 from Vatra Dornei and Toplița. A marked access route to Ceahlău is recorded from the city of Bicaz via the Bicaz-Baraj and Izvorul Muntelui mountain cabins.

By the lake

At Lake Izvorul Muntelui near Bicaz, you can fish for species including perch, pike-perch, trout, bream, roach and crucian carp. The Kayac Fest Bicaz was held annually at Lake Izvorul Muntelui near Bicaz, around the middle of June.

Port Bicaz, also called Complexul Turistic Naval Port Bicaz, is located near the Bicaz Dam on the shore of Lake Izvorul Muntelui and served as a departure point for leisure boat trips on the lake.

For the higher-level travel overview: Bicaz.