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)

Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture, Yuryevskoye Highway in Veliky Novgorod

Point on route “Lord Novgorod the Great”

Point 1

Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture, Yuryevskoye Highway

🏛️ Museum

Historical Background

The Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Wooden Architecture is a unique architectural and ethnographic complex on Yuryevskoye Highway, just outside Veliky Novgorod. It was founded in 1964 on the site of the old village of Vitoslavlitsy, first mentioned as far back as the 14th century. According to tradition, the village's name comes from the legendary Novgorod boyar Vitomir. The museum was conceived as a “living” showcase of Russian wooden architecture. Old buildings were brought here from various parts of Novgorod Oblast and neighboring regions and restored. The museum's first building was the 16th-century Church of the Nativity of the Mother of God from the village of Pery. Other churches, peasant houses, barns and mills followed, creating a complete picture of village life in the Russian North.

Today

Today Vitoslavlitsy is one of the largest and best-known museums of wooden architecture in Russia. It has more than 20 architectural monuments, including houses, churches, farm buildings and mills. Each one is a unique example of traditional craftsmanship and cultural heritage. The museum regularly holds tours, folk festivals, fairs and workshops that let visitors immerse themselves in traditional Russian life. Especially popular are Svyatki (the Christmas season) and Maslenitsa (the Pancake Week festival), when traditional rituals are recreated with songs, dances and tastings of national dishes. In recent years the museum has been working on digitization and on restoring old buildings. The restored interiors of the houses and churches make you feel as if you were in a real old Russian village. The museum also offers interactive programs for children, which makes it a great choice for families.

Myths and Legends

Vitoslavlitsy has many stories and legends that give the museum a special atmosphere. One of them tells of the “mistress of the mill” — the ghost of a woman in white who is said to appear in the old mill. She is believed to be the spirit of the miller's wife, who drowned in a flood. Seeing her is considered a good omen that brings luck. According to another tale, one of the houses in the museum was once home to an old healer who helped people with wise advice and herbal remedies. They say that one of the houses still has a “magic corner”, a spot where your most cherished dreams are believed to come true.