←Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus

Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus

Photo of route “Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus”
11 points5 km2.5 hours

An ancient capital and an important town until the 18th century. Gradually Staraya Ladoga lost its status and became a village, an open-air monument to history. An ancient fortress and monasteries of the 12th–16th centuries survive here. They stand along the left bank of the Volkhov River, and the best views of them open from the right bank. The route was designed especially for the BelkaCar car-sharing service.

Route author

Susanin Team

Things to do

  • 📜 Learn the city's history
  • 🏛️🕰️ Compare the eras
  • 🏰🕵️‍♂️ Discover a legend

Route points (11)

  1. Pobedishche Tract — point on route “Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus”

    Pobedishche Tract

    📜 Historic site

  2. St. Nicholas Monastery — point on route “Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus”

    St. Nicholas Monastery

    🕍 Place of worship

  3. Staraya Ladoga Fortress — point on route “Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus”

    Staraya Ladoga Fortress

    📜 Historic site · 🏯 Fortress remains

  4. Staraya Ladoga Museum-Reserve — point on route “Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus”

    Staraya Ladoga Museum-Reserve

    🏛️ Museum

  5. Monument to Rurik and Oleg the Wise — point on route “Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus”

    Monument to Rurik and Oleg the Wise

    🗿 Monument

  6. Holy Dormition Convent — point on route “Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus”

    Holy Dormition Convent

    🕍 Place of worship

  7. Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God — point on route “Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus”

    Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God

    🕍 Place of worship

  8. Schwartz House — point on route “Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus”

    Schwartz House

    🕵️ Urban legend

  9. Cathedral of St. John the Baptist — point on route “Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus”

    Cathedral of St. John the Baptist

    🕍 Place of worship

  10. Holy Spring of St. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa — point on route “Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus”

    Holy Spring of St. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa

    🕵️ Urban legend

  11. Sopki Tract: Oleg's Grave — point on route “Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus”

    Sopki Tract: Oleg's Grave

    📜 Historic site

Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God in Staraya Ladoga

Point on route “Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus”

Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God — point on route “Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus”
Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God — point on route “Staraya Ladoga: The First Capital of Rus”

Point 7

Church of the Dormition of the Most Holy Mother of God

🕍 Place of worship

Historical Background

The church was founded in the 12th century on the grounds of the Holy Dormition Convent. It was originally conceived as a burial church, as shown by the arcosolium niches in its walls and in the diaconicon, and by the “sign of the Rurikids” found on the arch of the church's vault. It is the northernmost stone Orthodox church of the pre-Mongol period. The church took on its present appearance only in the 16th century; earlier images of it have not survived. During the Time of Troubles the church was plundered together with the convent. It was reconsecrated and services resumed only by 1617. Today the church is used only for summer services and is not heated, to preserve its 12th-century frescoes.