Museums (Veliky Novgorod): wooden architecture, the Kremlin and much more

In Russia there are places with centuries-old history, well-preserved monuments of architecture, monasteries with ancient traditions, they are often called city-museums. Veliky Novgorod is one of such landmark places. The history of the city totals more than 1150 years, today there are more than fifty architectural monuments belonging to the 9th-17th centuries, and all of them are part of modern life. Tours in Veliky Novgorod are popular among Russians and foreign guests.

The Novgorod Kremlin

The city itself is located along the banks of the Volkhov River. The left bank of the river since 1044 is guarded by the Novgorod Kremlin, its ancient name is Detinets. In ancient Russia Novgorod the Great was the center of an influential principality. Detinets performed defensive functions, and also served as a place where official meetings were held, government decisions were made and was going to the people's council.

The Kremlin is the first place where tourists come to visit museums in Veliky Novgorod. The territory of the complex is surrounded by thick fortress walls, built in the 15th century, before this time the walls were cut down from a tree. Initially around the perimeter of Detinets nine towers were built, but three of them were destroyed, when exactly, it is not known. In 1045 on the territory of the defensive complex was built the St. Sophia Cathedral, today it is one of the oldest preserved Orthodox churches in Russia.

Significant restructuring, expansion and strengthening of the Kremlin was exposed during the reign of Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich, in the early 12th century. Until the end of the century, several gate churches were rebuilt, by the 15th century the fortification was modernized according to the new threats that appeared in connection with the "fiery battle". In the year of the Millennium of Rus' (1862) in the Novgorod Kremlin conducted a full-scale restoration, installed a monument to a great date.

Being within the Kremlin, it is worth to visit the Faceted Chamber, the Building of the Presence, the Children's Museum Center, the Church of Andrey Stratilat, etc. Today on the territory of the ancient construction there are exhibitions, thematic events, museums. Veliky Novgorod began with Detinets, and today the city is a large industrial, intellectual and historical center of Russia.

Vitoslavlitsy

The Museum of Wooden Architecture in Veliky Novgorod is located on the site of the old village of Vitoslavlitsy, which grew near the St. George's monastery several centuries ago. The area is very picturesque, there is the river Volkhov, Lake Myachino, all the buildings send tourists back to the past and sometimes it seems that fairy tales are for certain the past.

Walking along the streets, you can in detail examine the village houses of different centuries, small chapels and tall wooden churches. All the exhibits can be visited, go inside and understand how the life was arranged. Objects of interiors, textiles, paintings in professional hands of professional restorers have found a second life. The open-air reserve started working on May 16, 1967 and is located 4 km from Veliky Novgorod.

Exhibits of the reserve

Now the Museum of Wooden Architecture in Veliky Novgorod has in its arsenal more than four dozen wooden architectural monuments. Many of them belong to the 16th century, part of residential and industrial buildings - to the period of 18-19 centuries. The most significant exhibits are:

• Church of the Nativity of Christ. It dates back to the 16th century. Was moved from the village of Peredki (Borovichi district).
• Uspensky church from the village of Kuritsko (Novgorod district). Tentatively it was built in 1595.
• Church of the Trinity. The temple was erected in 1672-1676 and was previously located in the Rekonskaya desert (Lyubytinsky district).

There's a Russian spirit ... It smells of Rus

The Museum of Architecture in Veliky Novgorod is also called folk. In the ethnographic preserve you can get acquainted with thematic exhibitions located in the museum's cottages, such as:

• "The economy and life of the peasants."
• "Christening".
• "Wedding: The Princely Table".
• "Spring and summer holidays."
• "Winter life of the peasants."

Folklore festivals, concerts of folk bands and bell-ringing are held regularly here. Great folk festivals are organized for Shrovetide, Trinity, Christmas and other significant dates. Since 2013, the "Economic Yard", interesting for adults and children, has been opened. Within the framework of the exposition you can get acquainted with pets that were traditionally kept in a peasant farm.

Vitoslavlitsy - a bright ethnographic complex, where there are their exhibitions, exhibits, museums. Great Novgorod and the surrounding area give an opportunity to get acquainted with traditional rituals, devote time to history, folk craft and at the same time remain in rhythm with modernity.

sights

In the ancient city, the line between modernity and history is very blurred. Attractions are met at every step, therefore, going on a short sightseeing tour, it makes sense to decide what to see this time, what to visit museums. Veliky Novgorod has a large list of excursion programs and landmarks:

• Cathedrals and temples. Except Hagia Sophia, it is worthwhile to see the pearl of the architecture of medieval Rus - the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior, the Church of the Apostle Philip and Nikola the Miracle-Worker, built for merchant money in the 17th century. To significant monuments of architecture is St. Nicholas Cathedral (1113 year of construction), not far from it stands the church of Paraskeva Friday. Since the 13th century, the life of the Novgorodians has been consecrated by the St. Nicholas-Dvorishchensky Cathedral. In the city there are many more ancient temples, some of them function as museums, and some belong to the diocese and are used for their intended purpose.
• Museum of iconography. Here are collected 300 icons, the first of which date back to the 11th century, and the latter belong to a modern school. Particular attention is paid to the Novgorod school of icon painting.
• For music enthusiasts, the Museum of Musical Antiquities named after Povetkin VI will be of interest. Here you can get acquainted with national musical instruments, trace their evolution.
• The Museum of Artistic Culture is located in the Desyatinn Monastery. The exhibition features art paintings, an exhibition of antique porcelain, cultural and cognitive events are held.

This small list can be supplemented with many more unique places, but even walking around the city, you can in detail consider what he lived in ancient times. An ancient fresco, a pavement laid out in an ancient way, or a monastery, whose walls have experienced more than one invasion, will surely fall on your eyes.