Destinations > North-West

Veliky Novgorod

A city that is stuck in time and has preserved the largest number of monuments of the pre-Mongolian era. We can safely call Veliky Novgorod the pantry of ancient Russian art and mecca for archaeologists

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Not That Novgorod

Not only foreign tourists, but also many Russians often confuse Veliky Novgorod with Nizhny Novgorod and remember the Volga. But Veliky Novgorod stands on the Volkhov River, and of course, it is much older than Nizhny Novgorod. Veliky Novgorod is definitely worth going to for the impressive number of monuments of ancient pre-Mongolian architecture, earthen ramparts and small museums.

Another unique feature of the city is the preserved original view of the historical center. The Trade side rests on the marshy lowlands, and the construction of new high-rise buildings is impossible there. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through the center, take a boat ride on the Volkhov River. By the way, nowhere else in Russia you will see a city beach right next to the Kremlin wall!
Be sure to bring birch bark items and a Valdai bell from your trip, but do not forget to bring an umbrella with you on a trip – the weather in Novgorod is foul and changeable.

short city information

LOCAL TIME	UTC+3
CLIMATE	Temperate
POPULATION	220 thousand people
HOW TO GET	3 hours by Lastochka train from St. Petersburg
HIGHLIGHT	St. Sophia’s Cathedral, Detinets, Vitoslavitsy museum

types of tourism

Excursion

Religious

culinary

nature

Survive the Yoke

The Rise of the Great Rurik Dynasty

For the first time, the word “Novgorod” is mentioned in a chronicle dating back to the 9th century when Knyaz Rurik settled here with his family and gave rise to the great Rurik dynasty. Leading a team from Novgorod, Knyaz Oleg conquered Kiev, and Kievan Rus was formed. Novgorod became the second most important city in the state.

Fragment Gate of the St. Sophia Cathedral. Selective focus

During the years of the yoke, the city constantly paid tribute to the Horde, so that the Tatars did not attack its lands, and managed to save unique architecture. Nowadays not many cities in Russia preserve pre-Mongolian buildings. Having escaped destruction, the city played an important role in protecting the North-Western borders of Russia from Swedish and German aggression.

former way of life

The First Free Republic

In the 12th century, Novgorod received the status of the first free republic on the territory of Rus. The life of the city was governed by the Veche. The elders who were part of it decided all issues related to war and peace, chose the ruler of the city, passed laws and concluded treaties with neighboring cities and principalities.

The form of the government was not the only peculiarity of the city at that time. Modern scientists discovered that the citizens of Novgorod were surprisingly literate. Archeologists found lots of birch bark manuscripts used by the citizens in everyday life to write a note or a letter with the same ease that we text each other in What’s App. They even discovered manuscripts of a 9-year old boy, which seems unreal for the level of literacy in Rus of that time.

Intersection of Major Trade Routes

Two Banks of Volkhov River

Novgorod is located on the two banks of the Volkhov River. The center of the city is situated on the so-called «Sofia side» where all the major city sights can be found, including the Kremlin, the St. Sophia Cathedral, and the «Millennium of Russia» monument. The monument was erected in the 19th century on the millennium of Rurik’s calling to reign in Russia. It is dedicated to 128 famous people at once – rulers, military and statesmen, writers, artists. It is noteworthy that there is no figure of Ivan the Terrible – the Novgorodians did not forgive the tyrant tsar for the defeat of their native city.

The second side of the river is the «Trade side». For a long time, Novgorod was an important trade city, the intersection of major trade routes linking the Baltic States, the Mediterranean, the East, Flanders, Scandinavia, Constantinople, and Astrakhan. Only the construction of St. Petersburg led to the loss of this ancient city’s significance. On the Trade side, the major sights are Yaroslav’s Court and St. Nicholas Cathedral, founded as a residence of Prince Yaroslav in the 11th century, and the Church of the Savior on Ilyina with frescoes by Theophanes the Greek.

inside the stone walls

Kremlin & St Sophia Cathedral

The historical center of the city is surrounded by the ancient stone walls of the Kremlin called Detinets, built in the 15th century by Ivan the 3rd when he conquered Novgorod and joined it to Moscow. Inside the Kremlin is the symbol of Novgorod, the St. Sophia the Cathedral. It is the oldest building in the European part of Russia and one of the oldest well-preserved temples in the world. The temple was built in just five years, from 1045 to 1050. The majority of frescoes are of the 19th century, but on the central dome, some fragments of the frescoes of 1109 have been preserved. It was here that the Archbishop of Novgorod blessed Alexander Nevsky and his army on a campaign against the Livonian knights – this battle is known as the Battle of the Ice.

Near the belfry, you can get to the fortress wall and enjoy a first-class view of the Volkhov River and the Trade side, you can even see the Yuriev Monastery and the Rurik settlement.

Photos © Center for Tourism Development "Krasnaya Izba"

unique monuments

Vitoslavlitsy Museum

The Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture is located in a unique historical and landscape area just 4 km from Velikiy Novgorod. At the eastern part of the museum territory, you can enjoy a beautiful view of Lake Myachino, the floodplain of the Volkhov River, and the Rurik settlement with the Church of the Annunciation.

The uniqueness of the Vitoslavlitsy Museum is in the architectural value of the transported monuments. There are 34 unique buildings including 10 religious (churches and chapels). Three of them are objects of wooden architecture of the 16th century, including one of the oldest wooden churches in Russia – the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin that was built in 1531.

heritage of Byzantine culture

Valday Iversky Monastery

In Novgorod Oblast, there is one of the most significant spiritual places in Russia of the 17th century – Valday Iversky Monastery. It was founded by Patriarch Nikon in the image of the Iversky monastery on Mount Athos in Greece. The building of this monastery supported the idea of the continuity of Russia in the heritage of Byzantine spiritual culture.

Having become the richest and most famous of the monasteries of that time, it became the center of spiritual enlightenment. It also was one of the few centers of book printing in Russia, the place where crafts were born and developed.

The monastery is situated on one of the islands of the picturesque Valdai Lake. The pure and untouched nature makes the silent peace of the island even more inspiring.