←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.

Route author

Susanin Team

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

Yaroslav's Court in Veliky Novgorod

Point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

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

Point 9

Yaroslav's Court

📜 Historic site

Historical Background

Yaroslav's Court, on the Trade Side of Veliky Novgorod, was one of the city's first architectural and political centers. According to tradition, the palace of Yaroslav the Wise stood here in the early 11th century and gave the place its name. The chronicles mention Yaroslav's Court as the place where veche (popular assembly) meetings were held and the most important trade agreements were made. It was home to religious and commercial buildings, including St. Nicholas Cathedral, one of the oldest stone churches in Novgorod.

Today

Today Yaroslav's Court is a complex of 12th–16th-century monuments, including the churches of St. Paraskeva Pyatnitsa, the Dormition and St. John on Opoki, and the arcade of the Gostiny Dvor (merchants' court). The complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular place for tours and festivals.

Myths and Legends

Some believe that the so-called veche bell, which summoned people to public assemblies, hung at Yaroslav's Court. Legends also say that Novgorod merchants held secret meetings here to discuss their trade.