←Lord Novgorod the Great

Lord Novgorod the Great

Photo of route “Lord Novgorod the Great”
12 points26 km4 hours

One of the oldest cities of Rus. The cradle of Russian democracy, a medieval center of trade and crafts, and a major partner of the Hanseatic League in the 12th–17th centuries. Veliky Novgorod was the link between medieval Europe and Rus. Today Veliky Novgorod is an open-air museum. This route was designed specially for the BelkaCar car-sharing service.

Things to do

  • 📜 Learn the city's history
  • 🏛️🕰️ Compare the eras

Route points (12)

  1. Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture, Yuryevskoye Highway — point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

    Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture, Yuryevskoye Highway

    🏛️ Museum

  2. St. George's Cathedral, Yuriev Monastery — point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

    St. George's Cathedral, Yuriev Monastery

    🕍 Place of worship

  3. Sofia Embankment — point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

    Sofia Embankment

    🚶‍♂️ Waterfront

  4. Kremlin Park — point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

    Kremlin Park

    🌿 Public garden or park

  5. Detinets (Novgorod Kremlin) — point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

    Detinets (Novgorod Kremlin)

    📜 Historic site · 🏯 Fortress remains

  6. Millennium of Russia Monument — point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

    Millennium of Russia Monument

    🗿 Monument

  7. St. Sophia Cathedral — point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

    St. Sophia Cathedral

    🕍 Place of worship

  8. Archbishop's Chamber (Chamber of Facets) — point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

    Archbishop's Chamber (Chamber of Facets)

    🏛️ Museum

  9. Yaroslav's Court — point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

    Yaroslav's Court

    📜 Historic site

  10. St. Anthony's Monastery — point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

    St. Anthony's Monastery

    🕍 Place of worship

  11. Cathedral of the Sign — point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

    Cathedral of the Sign

    🕍 Place of worship

  12. Church of the Savior on Nereditsa — point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

    Church of the Savior on Nereditsa

    🕍 Place of worship

Cathedral of the Sign in Veliky Novgorod

Point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

Cathedral of the Sign — point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”
Cathedral of the Sign — point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

Point 11

Cathedral of the Sign

🕍 Place of worship

Historical Background

The Cathedral of the Sign was built in 1682 on the site of an older church that had been destroyed. It is an important 17th-century architectural monument in the style typical of its time, combining features of the Novgorod, Yaroslavl and Moscow schools. The church was built to house the miracle-working icon of the Mother of God of the Sign, which, according to legend, saved Novgorod from an attack by the Suzdalians in the 12th century.

Today

Today the Cathedral of the Sign stands next to the Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior on Ilyina Street and is part of a historic complex. During World War II the church was badly damaged: it was used as barracks, and its murals suffered. Even so, thanks to the efforts of restorers it was brought back, with work continuing into the 1960s and 70s.