North-West of Russia

North-West Russia

Novgorod
Pskov
Pechori
Izborsk

The starting-point on the way  from the Harangians to the Greeks, this territory occupies 1.8 million square kilometres and could easily accommodate several Western European states. It is a magnificent area stretching from the Baltic shores to the Urals, and from the mountains of the Kola Peninsula to the Novgorodian plains carpeted with wild flowers. It is a land that gave birth to many heroes, to Russian democracy and to the Russian statehood.

North-West Russia is a centre-point of Russian spirituality and culture. These are not only represented by the great treasures accumulated over the centuries and held in museums. You can experience it if you come to the residences of the Transfiguration Monastery in Valaam or the Pechory (Cave) Monastery near Pskov and touch the walls, and remain alone with the icons in front of which generations of Russians have said their prayers.

North-West Russia has much to offer you: interesting excursions and colourful fetes, comfortable boat trips and fascinating walks. It is a country of blue lakes, of which the Ladoga and the Onega Lakes are the largest in Europe, and of fast-flowing rivers, more than 27000 in all, abounding in fish. The  forests provide habitats for wildlife, including some of the species which are extinct in Western Europe. Visitors can enjoy themselves in any season here, not only acquainting themselves with local history and culture but by active recreation on landscape.

North-West Russia, diverse and unique, welcomes you!

NOVGOROD

It is on the Volkhov River not far from Lake Ilmen, 180 kilometres from St. Petersburg. It is easily reached by car, by bus and by train. It is one of the oldest towns in Russia, which was called respectfully “the Lord”. In 1999 it was returned its historical name of Veliki (The Great) Novgorod.
The town was founded in 859 and for many centuries it remained the largest centre of political, spiritual, cultural and business life. It differed from other Russian settlements in many ways. For example,  the people here wore leather boots, not bast shoes, and the streets were paved. There was a popular saying: “Novgorod is the father of Russian cities, Kiev is the mother and Moscow is the heart.”
The principal Novgorodian monument is the Kremlin (initially called in Russian Detinets, meaning “citadel”) The beginning of its construction dated by 1044. A year later, the Cathedral of St. Sophia was  created, the oldest stone cathedral in Russia. Its interior is decorated by magnificent frescoes, while the iconostasis comprises icons which are among Russia’s cultural treasures. On the opposite bank of the Volkhov is the Yaroslav Yard, an open-air museum comprising a number of various monuments of the 12th – 16th –century architecture, including churches of different denominations. The pride of Novgorod is the Yuryev Monastery with the Cathedral of St. George, preserving the original 12th –century frescoes. Of special interest for the visitors is an architectural and ethnographic museum, Vitoslavlitsy,  which comprises marvellous wooden buildings dating from the 16th – 20th centuries and an exhibition showing the life of Novgorodian peasants. There are fascinating folklore group shows arranged here too.
 Veliki Novgorod  is sometimes called “the Russian Florence”,  for nowhere else can you see such a wealth of architectural  and artistic masterpieces. 

PSKOV

Pskov is very ancient town. It was first mentioned in chronicles in 903, but the date of its origin is unknown and goes back to some very old times. For many centuries it was the strongest fortress on the western border of Russia. Pskov’s historical destiny as a warrior intercessor was reflected in its monuments, especially its architecture, an extraordinary, permanent, genuinely popular epic in stone. Those, who once upon a time came to Pskov bringing war and devastation, saw the invincible might of the fortress walls, the unshakable strength of Pskov churches.
Pskov – one of Russia’s oldest and most beautiful cities, it boasts one of the greatest numbers of extant historical monuments – over 300. The earliest of them go back to the 12th century, the latest to the early 20th. This city is a fascinating combination of ancient fortress walls and towers, the cupolas of Orthodox churches and monasteries, with modern architecture. The old city is located on quite a high hill. Here the Pskov Kremlin was built, named Krom. The gilded “onion” cupola of the Trinity Cathedral could be seen on a sunny day from a distance of 30 - 40 kilometers.

 The small town of Pechory (in English does mean Caves), a local centre, is situated near the Estonian border 53 kilometers from Pskov. The main attraction of the town is the Holy-Pechory Assumption Orthodox Monastery of the caves, the oldest in Russia, being the monument of Russian culture and military history. Originally located in the caves, the monastery gave the name to the town. The contemporary appearance of the monastery is unusually picturesque. The fortress walls surrounded the wonderful architectural ensemble consisting of the churches of 15-19th centuries, a big belfry (with complete set of the ancient bells) and originally household constructions. Now the cloister has 11 churches, three among them are of cave type. Seventy monks live in the monastery. The monastery has a restoration of the icons, wonderful children choir. The main cave consists of six “streets” about 200 meters long, and there are more than 300 gravestones there. It is a burial vault for monks, worries, statesmen, peasants and townspeople. More than 10,000 monks remains lie here.

On the way from Pskov to Pechory there is another ancient city – Izborsk. It is one of the oldest towns in Russia, began from a small settlement. The remains of the 8 – 13th century fortifications and other buildings are still hidden in the hill. From its rocky foot the Slavonic springs like subterranean waterfalls spurt out of the ground. They never freeze over. This ancient settlement was mentioned among the first Russian towns under the year 862. At the Izborsk Nature Reserve you can visit a museum and an active church. Its main monument is a new 14th century fortress on Crane Hill. It bore the brunt of countless enemy attacks against Russia. The old walls and towers of the fortress look as if they grow directly out of the earth of this magnificent land.