- Type
- Fortress
- Built
- 1484 · 15th century
- Location
- Northwestern, Russia
- Heritage
- part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site (an old town or a valley, for example)
- Coordinates
- 58.5216°, 31.2757°
History
The stronghold on the left bank of the Volkhov, known as the detinets, appears in the chronicles under 1044, when Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich fortified it; soon afterwards the Cathedral of St Sophia was built inside (1045–1050). For centuries it was the seat of the archbishops and the centre of power of the Novgorod Republic, one of the largest cities of medieval Rus. After Novgorod was subjugated by Moscow in 1478, Ivan III ordered new brick walls, built in 1484–1490. The circuit of almost 1.5 kilometres was reinforced by twelve towers, nine of which survive. The fortress suffered in the Second World War, and since 1992 it has been part of the UNESCO site covering the historic monuments of Novgorod and its surroundings.
What to see
Within the walls stands the Cathedral of St Sophia, one of the oldest churches in Russia, with its 12th-century bronze Płock Doors. Nearby are the belfry, the Gothic Chamber of Facets of the archbishops and the Millennium of Russia monument of 1862. Visitors can climb the Kokui Tower and walk a stretch of the walls, and the gates look out over the Volkhov to Yaroslav's Court on the far bank.
Wikipedia article Wikidata Q1277545
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