Veliky Novgorod Map

Description: This map shows streets, trails, buildings, cafes, bars, restaurants, monuments, shops, churches, points of interest, viewpoints, and parks in Veliky Novgorod City Centre.

Description: This map shows neighborhoods, streets, roads, lakes, rivers, buildings, railways, railway stations, and parks in Veliky Novgorod.

Description: This map shows streets, buildings, churches, museums, monuments, parking lots, public toilets, tourist information centers, points of interest, tourist attractions and sightseeings in Veliky Novgorod.

Description: This map shows streets, roads, rivers, buildings, Novgorod Kremlin, churches, museums, public toilets, monuments, metro stations, points of interest, tourist attractions, and sightseeings in Veliky Novgorod.

Description: This map shows walls, buildings, churches, museums, monuments, public toilets, points of interest, and attractions in Novgorod Kremlin.

Veliky Novgorod, also known as Novgorod the Great, is one of Russia's most historically significant cities. Located in the northwestern part of Russia, approximately 120 miles south of Saint Petersburg, it serves as the administrative center of the Novgorod Oblast. The city stands on the Volkhov River, which connects Lake Ilmen to Lake Ladoga.

Founded in the 9th century, Veliky Novgorod was one of the most important political, economic, and cultural centers of medieval Russia. The city was a major station on the ancient trade route from the Varangians to the Greeks and served as the first capital of Rus' under Prince Rurik, who is considered the founder of the Russian state. During the Middle Ages, Novgorod was the only Russian city that escaped Mongol occupation, maintaining its independence and developing its own unique political system known as the Novgorod Republic.

The city's most prominent landmark is the Novgorod Kremlin, also known as Detinets, which was first mentioned in chronicles in 1044. Inside the Kremlin stands the Saint Sophia Cathedral, built between 1045 and 1050, making it the oldest church building in Russia. The cathedral features remarkable frescoes and a famous set of bronze doors known as the Magdeburg Gates.

Another significant historical site is Yaroslav's Court, located on the Trade Side of the city. This complex served as the primary market and meeting place during the time of the Novgorod Republic. Nearby stands the Church of St. Nicholas, built in 1113, which represents the classic style of Novgorod architecture.

The city is also home to the Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture, an open-air museum featuring traditional Russian wooden buildings from the 14th to 19th centuries. These structures were transported from various parts of the Novgorod region and reassembled at the museum site.

In 1992, the historical monuments of Novgorod and its surroundings were included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city's archaeological layer, reaching depths of up to 8 meters, is considered one of the most valuable in Russia, containing well-preserved artifacts from medieval times, including the famous birch bark documents that provide unique insights into daily life in medieval Russia.

Today, Veliky Novgorod has a population of approximately 222,000 people (as of 2024) and serves as an important industrial and cultural center. The city maintains several higher education institutions, including Yaroslav the Wise Novgorod State University. Tourism plays a significant role in the local economy, with hundreds of thousands of visitors annually coming to explore its historical sites and museums.

The city continues to be an important center for archaeological research, with ongoing excavations regularly uncovering new artifacts and contributing to our understanding of medieval Russian history.

Main sights in Veliky Novgorod