Novgorod

Novgorod, whose name means “New City,” is actually one of the oldest in Russia. Founded by Varangian Norseman as a trading post, its first written mention dates to the 9th century, although it was probably around well before that. This new city is also at once the birthplace of the Russian state, and one of the last cities to have been subdued by that state.

Novgorod the Great, as the city is still known to many of its inhabitants was, for a long time, a fiercely independent bastion of democracy. A city parliament composed of aristocrats, although occasionally incorporating all citizens for crucial decisions, had complete legislative power. This legislative veche hired and fired the princes who led the city’s military force. It is said that Russian history began here in 862 when Novgorod imported the Scandinavian Prince Rurik for the post. Rurik and his progeny would rule Russian lands for the next 750 years.

In the 10th century Novgorod was a powerful enough to launch military campaigns against Constantinople in an effort to settle a trade dispute. In the process, the fiercely independent town also swept up many of the East Slavic tribes and their land. With the adoption of Christianity at the close of the 10th century, Novgorod also became a powerful ecclesiastical center and immediately began building churches. One of these, the Cathedral of St. Sofia (1052) still stands in extraordinary condition.

The city long remained one of Russia’s strongest and most independent, avoiding even the Mongol Hordes of the Middle Ages and posing a strong rival to the up-and-coming Moscow for supremacy in the region. Only after particularly violent actions by Ivan III and Ivan the Terrible (who killed much of the nobility in the gothic Chamber of Facets, now rumored to be haunted) did the city become a truly integrated part of Russia.

Novgorod’s unique political structure, spiritual freedom, and territorial independence were highly conducive to the evolution of culture and art. The town's military power, its remoteness from dangerous southern borders, and successful campaigns against church reforms and heresies enabled them to preserve a unique complex of architectural monuments with frescoes of the 11th - 17th centuries, as well as the oldest Russian manuscripts, chronicles, acts, and icons.

Education has long been important to the people of Novgorod, with the oldest known educational institution dates to 1030. Novgorod also had developed system of schools, seminaries, and libraries by the 11th century. Although the State University was only recently established, it is one of Russia’s fastest growing institutions, now offering programs in agriculture, the humanities, pedagogy, economics, management, and a range of science and math programs.

Many experts of Russian art consider Novgorod to be a Russian Florence; no other Russian city has managed to preserve so many ancient architectural monuments adorned with wall murals. Today the city is an exceptionally bright city, filled with parks, a beach, and fascinating architecture. It’s a great city for students, or even just as a day-trip out of Moscow or Petersburg.