From the ancient times, Novgorodians were famed for their hospitality. As a trading centre, the city always welcomed visitors. No wonder - the more guests came into the city, the more Novgorod prospered and grew economically.

From the 10th to the 15th c. Veliky Novgorod was standing on the crossroad of the trading routs known as "From the Varangians to the Greeks". So-called "guests" - foreign merchants, in fact - came here to sell and buy. They were allowed to build hostels within the city walls, called "courts". The discipline and guarding of these courts were very strict, and locals had no hope of getting on the courts' territory even during the daytime. From the documents we know about existence of the Goth court, German court, Tver court. Today the place of the Goth court is occupied by the hotel «Tourist» - rather symbolic, isn't it?

Novgorod had also known personal hotels being built for special high guests. A typical example of such a hotel is the travel palace built in 1771 for the Empress Catherine II, who was in a habit of traveling within Russia. The palace still exists today and is now a home for the public Palace of Culture. Also existed a "tsar's apartment" which occupied a part of a nobleman house in a prestigious part of the city, in place of the contemporary Kremlin park. The tsar's family stayed there several times during their frequent visits to Novgorod. Quite famous was hotel "Solovyovka" for those who passed through Novgorod on their way from Saint-Petersburg to Moscow and back.

The "Tsar's apartment" is a characteristic example of a family hostel. It was situated in a prestigious part of the city, in the house, which belonged to one of the Novgorodian noblemen - I.Baranov. This house was located in the territory of the present Kremlin Park. The apartment was intended for members of the Tsar's family during their stay in Veliky Novgorod. They visited the city more than once. When the family of Nikolai II paid their last visit to Novgorod in 1913, they also stayed at the "Tsar's apartment".

And of course everybody knows the famous "Solovyovka" Hostel. It was the place, at which almost every person, passing through Novgorod on his/her way from St.Petersburg to Moskow and back, stayed.

During last decades many new hotels have been built in Novgorod. Today the infrastructure of hotels is being reformed actively, which is prerequisite to the further development of tourism in Novgorod and Novgorod region. Besides, hotel buildings are being repaired, rooms and apartments are being re-equipped, elegant interiors are being created, and service level is rising.

Come to our city, and you will certainly find a hotel to your liking!