During the period of Kievskaya Russ in IX c. Velikiy Novgorod was the second only after Kiev biggest economic, political, and cultural center. It was first mentioned in the annals in 859. Novgorod is situated on the merchant way called «from the Varangians to the Greeks». Nowadays it is a comparatively small quiet city with the population of 130,000 people. The center of the city is a reminder of the Russian history. The Kremlin in Novgorod (its construction began in 1044) is not in the tightly-filled city center but on the contrary it is still surrounded by a deep ditch. It was a fortress up to the year 1720. The Church of Sergiy Radonezhskiy is the only remained in Novgorod and North-Western Russia building which towers above one gate. St. Sophia`s Cathedral in Novgorod is the oldest monument of Russian architecture on the Russian territory and it is close to the architectural desire of the Kiev Cathedral. It has remained its original shape till nowadays. There are a lot of unique churches in Velikiy Novgorod built in different centuries. Not far from the city there is also Uriev Monastery. The Granovitaya Palata of the Novgorod Kremlin is the only monument in Russ totally built in a Gothic style. Different art works of the masters can be seen here. A monument devoted to the 1,000 anniversary of Russia is in the center of the Kremlin square. The history of the whole country is depicted on it. It is Novgorod where the first dated Russian book – «Ostromirovo Gospels» is kept (the original one is in the State Public library after M.E. Saltikov – Schedrin). A lot of official documents written on birch-bark were found here. Till nowadays Novgorod is famous for its love to things made of original birch-bark.
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During the period of Kievskaya Russ in IX c. Velikiy Novgorod was the second only after Kiev biggest economic, political, 
