It is no coincidence that the ancient Russian city, located on the banks of the Volkhov River, was named the Great. From its very foundation (859) until the 17th century, it was a significant outpost on the northwestern border. In the Middle Ages, the city became the capital of the Novgorod Veche Republic, a major center of the cultural, economic and spiritual life of Russia. A lot of religious and architectural monuments, ancient monasteries remained from this era in Veliky Novgorod. The museums of Veliky Novgorod are becoming increasingly popular among Russians and foreign tourists.

Novgorod Kremlin

It is difficult to resist admiration for those who see the greatest architectural and religious complex of the city for the first time – the Novgorod Kremlin. A feeling of gratitude arises to those whose efforts managed to keep it in a beautiful form. The scale of the construction cannot but amaze: the height of the enclosing walls is from 8 to 15 m, the thickness in some places is 6.5 m. From a small oak fortress erected under Vladimir Yaroslavovich (son of Yaroslav the Wise) in the 11 century.

The main object of attention of tourists here is St. Sophia Cathedral, built on the model of the Constantinople church. This magnificent cross-domed structure is a 5-nave snow-white church with helmet-shaped domes. After many years of neglect and devastation, today it looks like a true architectural gem of the Middle Ages and acts like a cathedral. Other ancient temples of the Kremlin are no less interesting. A small building with a small bell tower and a cross dome – the Church of St. Andrew Stratilates contains unique murals of the 16-17th century.

In essence, this is a side chapel left from the large Borisoglebsky Cathedral. You cannot pass by the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh (15th century), which attracts attention with its high clock tower. Because of the slight roll, the tower is called “Leaning Tower of Pisa”. Visited by many, the Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, which now houses a lecture hall.

The Faceted (Vladychna) Chamber – the only example of Gothic civil architecture – is a museum and exhibition complex. Temporary exhibitions are organized in the building of the former barracks. Near St. Sophia Cathedral there is a monumental monument “1000th Anniversary of Russia” – the focus of sculptural images of great personalities of Russia.

Museum of Antiquities

It is not surprising that in the most ancient Russian city there is a collection of exhibits confirming the solid age of Veliky Novgorod. All of them are located in one of the oldest city institutions – the Museum of Antiquities, founded in May 1865. It was organized on the initiative of N. G. Bogoslovsky, from an employee of the statistical provincial committee.

The first public exhibition was held at Bogoslovsky's private apartment. In 1867, museum rarities visited an ethnographic exhibition in Moscow, making a strong impression on visitors. For some time (1878-92), the institution stopped its activities. The most valuable religious artifacts were transferred to the St. Petersburg Theological Academy.

The new life of the Museum of Antiquities began in January 1893 in a newly built building, when the solemn consecration of the artifacts took place. Then they organized a repository at the diocese, where ancient monuments and art objects were delivered. An exhibition of paintings of Ancient Russia was opened in the building of the Bishop's House.

In 1922, following the results of the work of the commission for the seizure of church property, the museum collection was enriched with 400 exhibits. The expositions include silver jewelry, coins, household items and much more. A collection of archival photographs, newsreels introduce the history of the development of an institution important for the country.

Sovereign Chamber

The center of general attraction for visitors in the Novgorod Kremlin is the Vladychnaya (Chamber of Facets) This is the former residence of the Novgorod bishops, where meetings of representatives of the highest authorities were held. The building, built in the middle of the 15th century, was restored twice in order to preserve its original appearance. Today, the complex (2 buildings) presents various expositions. The exhibitions “Golden Pantry” and “Chamber of Archbishop Euthymius” are located in the Faceted Chamber.

“Golden Pantry” is an exhibition of works of jewelry art of the 16th-18th centuries, which impresses with the variety and skillfulness of the workmanship. The “Chamber of Bishop Euthymius” demonstrates the atmosphere of the life of bishops, their vestments, household items, etc. The main exposition of the complex occupies a 2-storey building built in the 18th century. as an administrative center. In 1865, a museum was opened in it in honor of the 1000th anniversary of Russia.

At the entrance to it, they attached a commemorative plaque dedicated to the founder of the institution, Nikolai Bogoslovsky. His merit is the preservation of priceless rarities – unique birch bark letters, giving a complete picture of the life of the ancient Novgorodians. There are many interesting archaeological finds, objects of arts and crafts, including icons. There is an exposition reflecting the events of the Second World War.

Novgorod Museum-Reserve

The oldest association of museum institutions in Russia is a large-scale complex of museums, architectural monuments, unique collections of various directions. The Novgorod Museum-Reserve began to form even before the revolution, in 1865. Now it geographically occupies the city of Veliky Novgorod, the entire Novgorod region and unites all the museums of this space.

Almost 170 buildings and other structures are listed under the protection of the reserve. The funds include more than 400 thousand movable items, more than 300 thousand scientific exhibits. Branches are located in other cities: Vitoslavitsy, Staraya Russa, Valdai, Chudovo, Borovichi. Immediately after the establishment of Soviet power, when the nationalization of church property took place, a huge collection of exhibits gathered. Their number was replenished every year due to archaeological excavations and liquidated private institutions.

January 1976 is the official date of foundation. Today, all the monuments of the reserve are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List (1992). 17 departments of the institution are engaged in large-scale cultural, educational, scientific, archaeological, restoration and educational work. The reserve has a great variety of collections: manuscripts, printed books, weapons, arts and crafts. Its funds contain masterpieces of ancient Russian painting, icon painting, wood carving, etc.

Yaroslav's Court

According to historians, on the site where the palace of Yaroslav the Wise stood, there is Yaroslav's Court, mentioned in the annals of the 12th century. as “princely court”. In the 16th century, during the reign of Ivan IV, it began to be called Gostiny Dvor. It is impossible not to admire this beautiful place, fenced off from the river by an elegant arcade. She, like the Gate Tower, remained from the Gostiny Dvor, built in the era of Peter the Great.

On a compact territory there are the Nikolsky Cathedral, the churches of Zhen Myrrh-Bearers, Procopius, Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, Assumption, George, John on Opoki. Each of these religious monuments is a kind of architectural masterpiece. The memorable Hanseatic sign, a stylized image of 2 ancient sailing ships: the Novgorod boat and the Hanseatic cogga, also deserves attention here.

Bronze sails are formed by woven crowns of symbolic trees. The original composition was installed at the time of the international celebration of the Hanseatic Days in 2009. Another object dedicated to this event is the Hanseatic Fountain. Its bowl is made in the form of a granite circle, embodying the idea of a negotiating table. The Gate Tower or Gridnitsa hosts the exhibition “Christian Antiquities. Artistic metal of the 11th-19th century”, where there is something to see.

Vitoslavlicy

Near the Yuriev Monastery, not far from Veliky Novgorod, there is an architectural reserve of Russian wooden architecture. It was named Vitoslavlitsy by analogy with the village that has been in this place since the 12th century. It was surrounded by many small monasteries. The village and the monasteries have gone into oblivion, only the Annunciation remains of the monasteries. A charming natural landscape with lakes and channels, mixed forest in 1960 was chosen to create an open-air museum.

It was decided to place ancient wooden churches in it. They were delivered from different villages and cities of the Novgorod region. Today, 22 wooden objects are located on the territory of the reserve. Here is the tent church of the Assumption (16th century), built according to the principle of “octagon on the quadrangle”. She was delivered from Kuritsk. From the village of Peredki they brought the Church of the Nativity of the Virgin, erected in 1531 in the type of cross on the basement with 3 altars of churches.

The 3-tier church of St. Nicholas (1767) from Vysoky Ostrov is impressive. Other religious buildings of wooden architecture are also interesting. Every visitor experiences a feeling of gratitude to the creators of the reserved place for the fact that they managed to preserve the fruits of the virtuoso skill of Novgorod wood carvers.

Trinity excavation

Tourists visiting Veliky Novgorod have a unique opportunity to find themselves in its distant past. The Trinity excavation provides them with such an opportunity, where the famous birch bark letters were found. Archaeological work has been carried out on Troitskaya Street, near Detinets, since the 70s of the 20th century. During this time, researchers managed to get to the bottom of the cultural layer of the 10th century.

As a result of excavations, many ruins of houses and estates were found, among which there is an art workshop of the pre-Mongolian period. A valuable find was the Novgorod Psalter – the oldest book of Russia, written on wax tablets in the 11th century. Today, the front of the excavations has turned into a tourist attraction, where the exposition “Theater of Time” is open.

It can be visited by participants of an organized tour of the Novgorod Museum-Reserve. Going down 6 meters, tourists find themselves in the ancient city. They see the remains of city estates, houses, outbuildings, etc. In the anniversary year of 2009, when the city turned 1150 years old in August, an archaeological art mob was held at the Troitsky excavation site. Hundreds of Novgorodians lined up along the excavation perimeter: scientists, students, residents of the city, tourists.

Art Museum

A lot of impressions await admirers of the talents of Russian painters in the historic building of the Nobility Assembly. It was built according to the design of the famous architect Stackenschneider in 1851 for parliamentary meetings, concerts, parties, balls. The facade of the 2-storey building was decorated with pediments-kokoshniks with stucco coats of arms of the cities of the Novgorod province. In the 50s of the last century, they were removed and the 3rd floor was built on, a portico was added, based on 8 massive columns.

For several decades, Soviet organizations and educational institutions were based here. The Museum of Fine Arts was opened in the Nobility Assembly in 2001. The basis of the expositions were collections of paintings confiscated from the former noble estates. The collections of the State Russian Museum and the Russian Museum Fund were added to them.

Visitors see here all the variety of genres of Russian painting, graphics, sculpture, portrait miniatures of the 18th-20th centuries. At the entrance, everyone is greeted by a grandiose painting by Villevalde “Opening of the monument to the 1000th anniversary of Russia in Novgorod in 1862” The expositions enchant with paintings by Rokotov, Levitsky, Bryullov, Borovikovsky, Aivazovsky, Tropinin, Repin and others. The expressive sculptures of Shubin, Antokolsky, Trubetskoy, Vrubel delight.

Hall of Military Glory

The rich history of the military exploits of the Novgorodians is embodied in the Hall of Military Glory, opened in 2012. It is located in the symbolic place of the city – near the protective medieval shaft, next to the memorial Stele. Its exposition reflects the feats of arms of the inhabitants of Veliky Novgorod for 1000 years. A team of professionals: historians, artists, cultural workers worked on the creation and collection of exhibits. Thanks to their efforts, the Hall's fund was enriched with 80 rarities: photos, awards, paintings, uniforms, weapons, etc. were donated by residents.

One of the exhibitions tells about the 16 most striking episodes of military glory. They are captured in 16 bas-reliefs on 4 mini-obelisks surrounding the Stele. Examining the exposition, one can draw a conclusion about the invaluable contribution of Novgorodians to the defense of their native land, learn the names of prominent military men. Of great interest is the exhibition of wax figures of warriors of 4 epochs (13th, 17th, 19th, 20th centuries). The exhibits of the “Hall of Military Glory” are constantly replenished.

Likhudov Corps

The ancient building attracts the attention of the monastic type with windows and a carved wooden porch. It is it that gives the building a fabulous look, evoking thoughts of distant antiquity. The building, called the Likhudov building, was erected in 1670 on the old foundation of the 15th century. At that time, a complex of buildings for various purposes was based on it, which in historical documents were called the “Archbishop's Palace”. Although, according to the same documents, the archbishops never lived in it. It housed military personnel, warehouses with food and gunpowder. The newly built building was named after 2 Greek monks-scientists – brothers Ioannikius and Sophronius. They founded the Greek-Slavonic School in 1706, an avant-garde school for that era.

It contained 2 classes: Slavic and Greek-Slavic. In the Slavic class, children were taught reading, writing, grammar, rhetoric, and poetics. In the Greek-Slavonic class, the Greek language, reading and writing were additionally studied. Later, in 1740, the institution was reorganized into a theological seminary and transferred to a new building. Likhudov Corps was occupied by a hospital, a library and an archive.

Children's Museum Center

Cognitive and educational institution for children. Here they join folk art, get acquainted with the art of Novgorod masters, with the history and culture of their native land. The center regularly hosts exhibitions of children's works, works by famous artists of the Novgorod region. and cities. Excursions to thematic expositions are organized weekly.

On weekends, the “Weekend Club” meets, where schoolchildren, together with their parents, participate in master classes in craftsmanship. They are led by professional master teachers who share their experience and skills. Classes are held in a specially equipped training room “Folk Culture”. Now the permanent exhibitions “The City of the Boy Onfim” and “Historical Sources” are being improved with the involvement of interactive means.

The program of the center includes the development of genres of children's folklore, the participation of children in folk holidays and festivals. Near the center is located “Onfimkina Glade”, where Grandfather Treskun lives – a mythological winter spirit – a hero of ancient folklore. From him, children learn a lot of interesting things about folk signs of winter, learn from him the wisdom of peasant labor. Get acquainted with the legends and traditions associated with Treskun.

State Museum of Art

An opportunity to get acquainted with the works of artists of the Novgorod land is provided by a specialized institution opened in the city in 2002. This is the GMHI, the basis of which was laid by the regional center of artistic creativity. On the day of its opening (April 8, 1994), 20 venerable artists of Novgorod donated their paintings to the center, and this has become an annual tradition. For 8 years (1994-2002), a collection of 2 thousand works was formed in this way, and the center was declared the State Museum of Art.

It is located on the territory of the Tithes Monastery (city center) on the Sofia side and occupies 2 buildings. The main office of the institution is located on the 1st floor of the northern building of the monastery (1814-20). Today, it hosts thematic exhibitions dedicated to the work of a particular artist. Here the works of not only professional painters of Novgorod and the region, but also young artists (for example, Lia Raitseva and others) are displayed.

There are interesting exhibitions dedicated to the natural beauties of Karelia and the memory of Alexander Nevsky. In the same building there is a storage of exhibits and office space. In building N 6 of the Desyatinny Monastery, a modern exposition “Blue Cobalt” with a collection of Novgorod (blue) porcelain is open.

iron museum

One cannot remain indifferent when visiting an exposition dedicated to an essential household item – an iron. It was opened in Vitoslavlitsy, becoming part of the Museum of Folk Wooden Architecture. The exposition demonstrates all types of irons presented in evolutionary development. More than 200 exhibits reflect the technical progress in the production of irons produced in different countries of the world. There is a primitive ironing tool here – a Russian rubel – a wooden plank with carved notches.

They softened and smoothed linen fabrics well. Various examples of coal irons are presented, which appeared in the Middle Ages and served almost until the middle of the 20th century. These iron products sometimes weighed 15 kg and were unsafe, because hot coals were placed inside. There are also more advanced models of coal irons, similar to a mini-stove.

An interesting sample of the 18th century. with a replaceable insert, which was heated on fire and put into a hollow body. You can see an alcohol iron, to the body of which a metal cone was attached, where alcohol was poured. A gas appliance heated from gas combustion is presented. There is also a water apparatus, in the sole of which water was poured, and ultra-modern electric specimens.

Film Museum of Valery Rubtsov

Near the Yaroslav's court in the “House of the Petty-bourgeois P. L. Butuzova”, an architectural and cultural monument of the 19th century, a film museum was opened. It was organized by Novgorodian Valery Rubtsov, who collected a large collection of unique film exhibits. Various rarities of the film industry in the 1st half of the 20th century. occupy the 1st floor of the building. Visitors are given the opportunity to see all the samples of Soviet film technology of the 20-40s. There are exhibits related to the global film industry: cameras, projectors, magic lanterns, editing tables.

The expositions on the 2nd floor demonstrate a variety of accessories, film paraphernalia, newspapers, books, and magazines on cinema. Many photos of Soviet, Russian and foreign artists; movie posters, tickets. Here are stored films of rare old films, documentary newsreels from the history of Novgorod. Valuable rarities – camera Yuri Gagarin. Admirers of the talent of Alexander Abdulov and Irina Alferova will get acquainted with their personal film archive. Recently, a new mini-exhibition “Projectionist's Booth” has opened in the institution.

Workshop-museum of Alexander Varentsov

It is difficult to overestimate the contribution to the development of the artistic culture of the Novgorod region. Honored Artist of Russia A. Varentsov, who organized a creative workshop. He was greatly assisted in the creation of the complex by his wife and student Svetlana Akifyeva, an art historian. The place of honor here is occupied by the gallery of paintings by the master. It was opened as part of a retrospective exhibition dedicated to the 65th anniversary of the remarkable artist.

It presents the entire creative range of the master: still lifes, portraits of the 70s, realistic and impressionistic landscapes, watercolor sketches, decorative paintings. Book illustrations and watercolor drawings by Svetlana Akifyeva are exhibited in the Small Hall. The works of polygraphy, created according to the paintings of Varentsov, are exhibited. Meetings of artists, exchange of experience, master classes are held in the graphics class. Beginning artists make their first strokes here under the guidance of experienced craftsmen. Art lovers can purchase the sketch they like in the workshop.