Veliky Novgorod! More than a name, it is a profession of faith: the name given by its builders to Russia's vast new capital city in the 9th C. The town grew up around its kremlin (citadel), the most ancient in Russia, an oval red-brick fortress on the banks of the Volkhov River, surrounded by a large moat.

Russia's decision-making centre at the time, Veliky Novgorod is also the site of Saint Sophia Cathedral which towers over the sixty or more churches of the fortified city. It contains a unique range of religious buildings and paintings that have been superbly maintained and restored, from monasteries to chapels, and the magnificent Church of the Transfiguration of Our Saviour of the 14th with the unique frescoes of Theophane the Greek.

Also in the kremlin, hidden away in the ancient, secluded administrative buildings, is a truly astonishing and exquisite collection of impressively large icons, probably the finest in Russia. The collection alone is worth the visit.

The Museum, with its archaeological and historic treasures, the concert hall where the Rachmaninov Festival is held, the Monument to the Millenium of Russia are amongst many other fascinating discoveries hidden within the walls of the citadel.

Only a stone's throw away at the Museum of Wooden Architecture, you can go for a stroll in a shady wood, through a large, undulating area full of wooden buildings collected from all over Russia and reerected here in a delightful exhibition: a reconstructed village of traditional dwellings, log churches... a fascinating walk, but above all a voyage in time not to be missed.

Magic, surprise, romance, a very gentle way of life... these are the main attractions of this historic, very Russian city. It is only natural that UNESCO should class Veliky Novgorod as part of our World Heritage. You too will count it as one of the most sublime cities you have ever visited.

1. THE NOVGOROD KREMLIN

The Kremlin, or Detinets as it was called in ancient times, was the nucleus and the heart of the town. The chronicles first mention it around 1044. Over the centuries, it became the religious, political and cultural centre of Novgorod Land. Rebuilt at the end of the 15th C in order to improve the fortifications, the oval-shaped stone citadel is situated on the banks of the Volkhov river. Its powerful medieval appearance still fascinates. Of the original 13 towers, 9 have survived. The highest, Kokui, is 41 meters (135 ft) high. In ancient times, it served as a watch-tower. Today, it is open to visitors throughout summer. From the top, one has a magnificent view over the city and the surrounding area. All Novgorod's most famous sites are in the Kremlin. The tower itself is open from 10 am to 7 pm every day except Mondays and Thursday.

+7 (816 2) 77 37 70
+7 (816 2) 77 37 63
museum@kremlin.natm.ru
http://www.novgorodmuseum.ru

2. Novgorod State Museum

The museum was established on May 4, 1865. It was founded by Nikolai Gavrilovich Bogoslovskiy, who was a priest, scientist, archeologist, and the secretary of the Novgorod Province Statistical Committee.

In 1992 a session of the general assembly of UNESCO included the museum in a list of world cultural heritage. By the President's Decree of the Russian Federation on January 15, 1998, the Novgorod State United Museum-Preserve is included in the state collection of separately valuable objects of history and culture of the peoples of the Russian Federation . Contained in the museum-preserve are photographs, showrooms, and monument museums in Great Novgorod and in other cities in the Novgorod region. In 2005 the Novgorod museum celebrated its 140-year anniversary.

3. EXHIBITION ON HISTORY OF NOVGOROD

On the ground floor of the former Kremlin court buildings, the exhibition presents the history of Veliky Novgorod and its region. Tools, household utensils, craft-made articles, weapons, and birch bark letters introduce the visitor the world of ancient Russia. Period musical instruments, chess boards and pieces, and toys complete a truly unique collection only be seen in Novgorod. Among the exhibits are fragments of ancient wooden paving blocks that were laid in Novgorod long before those in Paris and London. Open from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Tuesdays and the last Thursday in every month.

4. 0LD RUSSIAN ICON-PAINTING

A fascinating exhibition of 11th to 19th C Russian icons that is the greatest in size and thematic range in the world can be seen on the first floor of the former court building in the Kremlin. The icon collection of the Novgorod State Museum is unique; it consists of about fifteen hundred magnificent paintings dating from the 11th to the 20th centuries. In majority these icons take their origin from the leading monasteries and churches of Veliky Novgorod and its suburbs and give an idea of singularity of Novgorod wall-painting. 268 icons exposed in 14 halls were painted by artists representing the major schools of icon-painting, in the archbishop workshop in St. Sophia cathedral foremost. The exposition is organized in the chronological form that allows to study the way Novgorod icon-painting developed and evolved over the centuries. You will be able to witness the striking beauty of the best icon-paintings in the collection of Novgorod State Museum, including such outstanding paintings as “Nicola Lipniy” (1294); “Intercession” and “Boris and Gleb” of the 14th C; “Gospel scenes (of Christ's life)” of the 14th - 15th centuries; and a number of holiday icons from the church of Assumption of the Virgin on Volotovo field of the 15th century. Open from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Tuesdays and the last Thursday in every month.

5. Exhibition "Old Russian carved wood"

The exhibit is located on the 2 nd floor of the former office building in the Kremlin, and was opened during May 2005.

Among the artistic crafts of ancient Novgorod ran a common thread. The diverse works of art, detail of furniture, sleighs, the constructions of dwellings, decorated with carvings, compose a substantial part of the Novgorod archaeological material.

The skill of wood carving found wide application, even appearing in the adornment of the interiors of Old-Russian Temples. Using rich resources of this natural material, masters created carved icons, tsarist gates, iconostasis, pulpits, candlesticks, sculptural images of the saints, crosses and icon frames. These works of the ancient masters are part of the exhibit.

The previous exhibit was opened in 1990 and ran up to 2004. The new exhibit adds to the old; including 14 monuments of Old-Russian carvings.

One of the earliest monuments of Russian medieval sculpture is the monumental Lyudogoshchenskiy cross, created, according to inscription on the cross, by the residents of Lyudogoshchey Street in 1359.

From the monuments presented in the exhibition in terms of the special expressiveness of the descriptive and artistic solution differs the cross of first half 16th century from the Sunday monastery in the red field.

Although not numerous there are a couple sculptural images of the saints preserved in Novgorod , of Varlam Khutynskiy and Paraskevy of Friday. (16 th century )

New exhibit shows the many sides of this Old-Russian skill. Open from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Tuesdays and the last Thursday in every month.

6. THE FACETED CHAMBER

In 1433, as recorded by a Novgorod chronicler, Archbishop Euphymy ordered "a palace to be built in dressed stone within the walls of the Kremlin, the master masons coming from Novgorod, the stone masons being Germans from over the sea". The Archbishop's Chamber was the first secular dressed stone building in Novgorod. It appears to have served as council chamber for the Council of Lords, as the Metropolitan's Court of Justice, and for receiving ambassadors from the Russian States and foreign countries. Today, the Chamber houses an exhibition of 11th to 19th C decorative and applied arts. Among the items are priceless works by Novgorod jewellers, remarkable in their simplicity and virtuosity. The exhibition is open from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Wednesday and the last Friday in the month.

7. OLD RUSSIAN EMBROIDERY

In the Ioannovskom building is displayed the unique collection of Old-Russian facial and ornamental sewing, one of the most significant in Russia . Here it is possible to see the details of the garment of the saints Varlam Khutynskiy and Antonius Rimlyanin, patriarch Nikon, Prince Vladimir Yaroslavovich and others. The exhibition is open from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Wednesday and the last Friday in the month.

8. Fine Arts Museum
“Works of Russian Depictive and Decorative Art - Applied Skill”

In the museum Russian skill is represented by first-class works. Pictures and sculpture, figures and furniture, bronze and miniatures came into the museum in different ways: from those ruined by the revolution of 1917 of nobility estates, from the closed museum of the emperor academy of fine arts, from the donors and through various purchases. Portraits and historical pictures are displayed from outstanding Russian artists: A.P. Antropova, F.S. Rokotova, D.G. Levitskiy, V.L. Serov; the fabric of contemporary masters decorate the halls of the gallery. Novgorod occupies a notable place in the theme of the works, such as B.P. Villeval'de's the "Unveiling of the Monument to the 1000 th anniversary of Russia in Novgorod", (1864); Konchalovskiy's "Yur'evskiy Cathedral", (1926); and Kukryniksy's the "Flight of Fascists from Novgorod", (1976).

The exhibition is open from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Mondays and the first Thursday in the month.

9. CATHEDRAL OF ST SOPHIA - THE WISDOM OF GOD

St. Sophia Cathedral is the oldest dressed stone church in Russia, built in the Kremlin between 1045-1050 in the reign of Prince Vladimir. It has seen many historic events, in particular during the period when the town's treasury was kept there. The vestry holds many beautiful silver and gold objects and some fascinating embroideries; it has a rich library of the ancient hand-written books in an upper gallery. One can still admire many 11th and 12th C frescos, including the unique "Constantine and Elena", and the superb iconostasis (screen) with its numerous 15th to 17th C icons. The Cathedral is home to Russia's national relic - the miraculous 12th C icon of Our Lady of the Sign. The main entrance to the Cathedral is adorned with 12th C bronze gates cast in Magdebourg, decorated with scenes from the Old and New Testaments. It is open for services, but visits are allowed daily from 2 pm.

10. BELFRY OF THE ST SOPHIA CATHEDRAL

First mentioned in the 15th C, it has been rebuilt many times and is now mainly a 17th C building. Its bells, cast in the 16th-17th C, are on display near the belfry. From the top there is a superb view of the opposite bank of the Volkhov and the southern outskirts of the town. Permanent exhibition of bells.

11. MONUMENT TO THE MILLENIUM OF RUSSIA

Erected in 1862 in the heart of the Kremlin to celebrate the Russian State's first thousand years, it commemorates Veliky Novgorod's important role and its impact in the creation of the Russian state and in Russian culture. Many major events and historic figures in Russian history are shown. The monument is crowned by the figure of a woman, symbolizing Russia, kneeling before an angel who is giving her its blessing.

12 church of St Andreas Stratilates

This tiny church appeared in the southeastern part of the Kremlin at the end 17 th or the beginning 18 th century. It stands on the foundation of the stairs tower of the church of Boris and Gleb - one of the earliest (1167) and monumental buildings of the Kremlin, erected by Satko Sytnichem, who more often than not is identified with the epic hero - Sadko. The church has a single-span belfry raised about the pediment of its western facade. The fragments of fresco paintings, which are characterized by a wealth of ornaments, were preserved inside the temple. At present, the church is in need of restorations.

Work hours: from 10.00 to 18.00, lunch time: from 13.00 to 14.00, days off - Tuesday, Wensday

13 church of St Basil (1407)

This amazingly harmonious temple stands at the crossroads of three streets, on the spot of a razed earthen city. It is one of the small temples of the city with artistic illumination.

14. THE YAROSLAV COURTYARD AND FORMER MARKET

According to legend, the 11th C Prince Yaroslav built his palace on the right bank of Vokhov facing the Kremlin. It was the most beautiful palace in Europe at the time. Later the area became the town's market place, with public granaries and innumerable warehouses serving the merchants from overseas whose boats moored at the long quay. Gostyny Dvor (a period shopping gallery) was built in the 18th C, completing the fascinating series of 12th to 18th C architectural monuments. The oldest church on the Estate, St Nicholas Cathedral, dates from 1113. The Cathedral was recently restored to its former glory. An exhibition “Day after day...” dedicated to the 100th birthday of the prominent archaeologist and historian Mikhail Karger is open from 10 am to 6 pm every day except Mondays, Tuesdays and the last Friday in every month.

15. Gate tower of the Court-yard
Exhibition "Christian antiquities. Decorative metal of the XI-XIXth centuries"

The collection of Old-Russian ornamental sewing is one of the most significant in the country. Its uniqueness and special feature consists in the presence of early monuments.

Numismatic collection is compared in value and meeting of Old-Russian coins with the analogous collections of the State Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg and the State Historical Museum Moscow.

The sfragisticheskaya collection includes lead official presses from the documents, published by Russian Great Princes, by the officials of power of the state and church.

The meeting of documentary and written sources includes the earliest authentic documents of the domestic history .

The collection of manuscripts and old publications contains the ancient monuments of Russian book culture.

The collection of the works of Russian depictive skill is the picturesque and graphic work of well-known artists.

Architectural- archaeological collection includes architectural and construction materials, the detail of construction.

The complex of the architectural monuments of great Novgorod with the monumental painting demonstrates the possibility unique for Russia to trace the continuous process of the development of Old-Russian architecture and wall paintings for a period of seven centuries.

Work hours: from 10.00 to 18.00, dinner from 13.00 to 14.00, days off - Tuesdays, Wensdays and the first Monday in every month.

16. church of St Parasceve Piatnitsa

This church was built in 1207 for the use of “overseas” merchants. A rock building preceded the wooden temples. Most of the church of Paraskevy is similar to the monuments of Smolensk architecture, especially the palace-like princely church of Michael the Archangel, built at the end of the 12-th century. Having everything removed from that time, it is possible to see the high temple, to the basic volume of which from three sides adjoin lower vestibules. Angles are designed by wide, multi-ledged blades, and a three-bladed arch is plotted in the outline of the roof. Portals and a complex system of decorative niches give the church extra flair. Some important elements include a protrusion in the east that, due to the nature of the facades, was used by Novgorod architects for the creation of that type of temple and was used to determine the face of Novgorod architecture in the 14th - 16th centuries. Work hours: from 11.00 to 18.00, days off - Tuesdays, Wensdays.

17. CHURCH OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR SAVIOUR

Built in 1374, the Church is both elegant and superbly proportioned, its rich decorations reminiscent of an ivory carving. Its murals, painted by Theophane the Greek, are world famous, being the only surviving frescos by this Byzantine master who decorated some 40 churches in all. Theophane's murals are vigorous, daring and highly expressive, giving the Church a fascinating atmosphere. Open from 10 am to 5 pm every day except Mondays, Tuesdays and the last Thursday of each month.

18. THE CATHEDRAL OF OUR LADY OF THE SIGN

Built between 1682 and 1688, its architecture is typical of 17th C Moscow. The Cathedral's murals were painted in 1702 by artists from Kostroma. Fortunately the frescoes have survived as they contain many secular scenes. The Cathedral is a popular place for the performance of sacred choral works. Open from 10 am to 5 pm every day except Wednesdays and the last Thursday of each month.

19. CHURCH OF ST THEODORE STRATILATES

Built in 1360-1361, the Church is a classic example of Novgorod architecture. Its most recent restoration uncovered fragments of a fresco in which techniques were used that have much in common with those of Theophane the Greek. Open from 10 am to 5 pm daily except Thursdays and Fridays and the last Wensday of every month.

20. CATHEDRAL OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LADY IN ST ANTHONY MONASTERY

The Monastery was founded by Anthony the Roman in 1106 on the banks of the Volkhov. Legend has it that he took only three days to come from Italy by sea, travelling on a rock. The Cathedral was built in 1117. Fragments of the original 1125 murals can still be seen and include the graffiti-like figure of a man dressed in caftan, with the inscription "Pyotr" scratched over his head. Researchers presume that this is the name of the original builder of the Cathedral. Today, regular concerts of sacred choral music are given. Open from 10 am to 5 pm everyday, except Mondays and the first Wensday of every month.

21. CHURCH OF ST SIMEON IN ZVERIN MONASTERY

St Simeon Church in Zverin Monastery was built in 1467. The well-preserved murals, a series of portraits of Saints, is a unique Russian example of a church calendar. Open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, except on Thursdays, Fridays and the first Monday of every month.

22. VITOSLAVLITSY

One of the most dear places of leisure to the townspeople is the museum of the Wooden Architecture near Yur'eva monastery. Museum is based in 1964 and occupies area into 33.4 acres , met on three sides by Lake Myachino and by the river Volkhov. In 40 years of existence the museum has transported here from different ends of Novgorod some 26 monuments of the most diverse designation: churches, chapels, cottages, and economic constructions. The church of Christmas of Mother of God from 1531 is one of the most early constructions in the north of Russia . The author of the architectural project of the museum and restoration is the deserved worker of the culture of Russia , the laureate of State Prize restoration architect L.E.Krasnorech'ev.

At the museum, a cottage, the smithy, the threshing floor, and exhibitions are all opened for visiting, which reflect the unique phenomena of people skills, traditional peasant customs, rites and occupations.

Special reputation for the local residents and the tourists acquired the constantly conducted holidays of folklore and crafts, yuletide, the festivals of bell ringings, and games. Work hours 10.00-18.00*

23. ST GEORGE MONASTERY

Founded in the 12th C, at the point where the Volkhov River leaves Ilmen Lake, this monastery is in a superb natural site to the south of the town. The main church, St. George Cathedral (1119), is a harmonious, well-proportioned building that seems to have been carved out of a single rock. It contains fragments of several 12th C frescoes. During World War II. the monastery was used as barracks by the Spanish Blue Division. Today it has returned to its original monastic life.

24. KHOUTYN MONASTERY OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF OUR SAVIOUR

Tradition holds that the monastery, some six miles north of the town, was founded in the 12th C on a site controlled by evil spirits. Led by Varlaam, the monks, by prayer, slowly won over the evil spirits and built the Church of the Transfiguration that has since been rebuilt on several occasions. The monastery has been under the special protection of the great Princes of Moscow since the 5th C. Today, the monastery contains fine examples of architecture dating from the 16th to 19th centuries. Since being restored it has become a nunnery.

25. NIKOLO-VYAZHISCHSKY MONASTERY

The monastery, seven miles north of Novgorod, was founded in the 16th C in a very picturesque area. Fine examples of 17th and 18th C architecture remain. The main church is the Cathedral of St Nicholas the Miracle-Maker (1685), linked by a covered passage to the Church of St John the Baptist (1698). The facade of St John's is richly decorated with the high-relief multi-coloured tiles. It is now a nunnery.

26. church of the Nativity in the Red field (1381-1382)

Or as it's more frequently called, Christmas in the cemetery. They connect the building of temple with Dmitriy Donskoy's name, whom Vozdvig temple in the honor of Novgorodians, who participated in the Kulikovo battle with Tatar Mongols (1380). It is assumed that they buried the bodies (already in Novgorod ) of soldiers precisely at this place. Work hours: from 10.00 to 15.00, days off - Thursday, Friday and the last Monday in every month.

27. church of the Transfiguration of our Saviour in Kovalevo field

The church of the Savior of Transformation on Kovalev was built in 1345 on the orders of Novgorod boyar Ontsifora Zhabina and for a long time it was the cathedral (main) temple of Spaso- Kovalev Monastery. The vestibules, which adjoin from three sides the basic massif, are the characteristic property of the temple. The church was painted in 1380 to the means of a certain of Afanasy Stepanovich and his wife Mary. Most impressive is the fresco of a drum and the enormous figures of soldiers in the lower registers of walls, a personification of epochs, which was begun with the victory of Russians in Kulikovom field.

From 1941 - 1944 the temple was on the front lines and it was converted into ruins. Instead of the splendid wall painting, which occupied area in 350 square meters, the architects revealed more than half million fragments, similar to the heaps of crushed stone. Only craftsmanship and the titanic labor of restorers returned life to the temple. (architect L.E.Krasnorech'ev and his painting restorers A.P., V.B.Grekovy).

Today the church is open for visits. Within the framework of a constant exhibition it is possible to see the interior of the temple slowly being rebuilt with the fragments of frescoes, and to estimate the refinement of the proportions of church. Work hours: from 11.00 to 16.00, days off - Thursday, Friday.

28. church of the Transfiguration of our Saviour on Nereditsa hill (1198)

This world famous church is the only building that was preserved from the small Nereditskeyeo monastery, on the spot of which now is located the village. The history of the church goes back to the summer of 1198, when it was erected by prince Yaroslav Vladimirovich after the death of all his children. If the first princely building ( Sofia 's cathedral) was largest, then the latter - church of Saviour on Nereditse - the smallest. The decrease of the role of princes as the lords of city found its reflection, also, in the buildings. In its appearance the last princely building did not differ from the modest boyars' and merchant temples of the end 12 th century. This temple is of the small, cubic type. Its internal space is very simple. The fresco painting of the church of Saviour on Nereditse was completed in 1199 and before its loss gave the most precise idea about the system of the painting of Russian temples at this time.

World War II converted the monument into ruins. The measurements, made in previous years, made it possible to restore it, but the immense fresco ensemble was lost forever. Only the expressive fragments of "terrible law court", the images of the saints and martyrs in d'yakonnike, still several figures in the lower part of the altar, give the possibility to understand and to feel its special features.

The researchers of this monument repeatedly focused attention on combining in its painting deeply traditional antiquity with the new elements both in the selection of subjects (means of the Russian saints of Boris and Gleb) and in the artistic language. These paintings were usually assigned to local masters. Several years ago archaeologists revealed the estate where artist Olisey Grechin lived at the end of the 12 th century. Some findings make it possible to assume that this master headed work on the creation of the frescoes of the temple.

Work hours: from 11.00 to 16.00, days off - Thursday, Friday.

29. Art Museum of Novgorod region

The museum is located in the territory of the Tenth Part Monastery – an architectural monument of the 14 th century; its early history is filled with secrets. It is believed that the monastery was built in 1327, when archbishop Moisey of Vozdvig the Church of Christmas of Mother of God on the Dessiatine. The museum is located near the nun's housing of the Tenth Part Monastery. The housing was built of rock, and in 1845 the monastery was given money by a local philanthropist during mother superior Olimpiade's lifetime.

Until 1994, creative workshops were located here, where iconographers, weavers, painters, and ceramic workers plied their trade. During April of 1994, the provincial training-production center of artistic creations was created, where the collection of materials was actively conducted. The funding for the future museum was generated here.

More than 2000 storage units were created during this time, which gave the institution the right to call itself a museum. This was granted during April 2002, and on December 30, the State Museum of Artistic Culture of the Novgorod Region was opened. Outstanding artists of the Novgorod Region are represented here.

The museum actively promotes its exhibitions. Yearly, tens of exhibitions from the Novgorod Region are displayed all around the region, Russia , and abroad.

30. church of the Dormition in Volotovo field

One of the objects of museum exhibition was the church in Volotovo field, near great Novgorod . According to the first Novgorod chronicle the church was built in 1352 to order of archbishop Moise, and in 1363 the temple was painted.

The temple acquired world-wide renown not only because of its architectural merits, but also the unique fresco painting. The walls of church held about 200 compositions. In the first months of World War II the monument was destroyed. Only the outline of the walls and posts to the height from 2 to 4 meters were preserved. In 1955 the conservation of ruins was carried out. In 2001 Russia and Germany signed an agreement to render gratuitous aid in the restoration of the temple and its frescoes. The Germany fulfilled its obligations. In 2002 at the construction site was the President Mr. Yokhannes Rau, and the restoration of this unique monument was realized in 2001-2003 with the retention on the walls of the sections of ancient painting. The official unveiling of the church took place on August 28, 2003.

Work hours: from 11.00 to 16.00, days off - Thursday, Friday. Telephone: (816 2) 73 28 89; tel./fax 77 70 44.