Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
»
Location
186km southeast of St Petersburg
SIGHTS
HIST
HISTORIC
ORICAL B
AL BUILDING
UILDING
KREMLIN
OFFLINE MAP
(admission free; 6am-midnight)
On the west bank of the Volkhov River, and surroun-
ded by a pleasant wooded park, this is one of Russia's oldest kremlins. Originally
called the Detinets, the fortification dates back to the 9th century, though it was later
rebuilt with brick in the 14th-century form that still stands today.
OORTHOD
THODOX CHUR
X CHURCCH
CATHEDRAL OF ST SOPHIA
OFFLINE MAP
(
Софийский собор
; 8am-8pm, services 10am & 6pm Sun)
This working cathedral,
the kremlin's focal point, was finished in 1050. It has a simple, fortresslike exterior
designed to withstand attack or fire (flames had taken out an earlier, wooden church
on the site). The onion domes were probably added during the 14th century - even so,
they are perhaps the first example of this most Russian architectural detail. The west
doors, dating from the 12th century, have tiny cast-bronze biblical scenes and even
portraits of the artists. The icons inside date from the 14th century; older ones are in
the museum opposite.
THE SAVIOUR OF NOVGOROD
The most important icon in the Cathedral of St Sophia is that of Novgorod's pat-
ron saint,
Our Lady of the Sign
( Знамения Божьей Матери ), which, accord-
ing to legend, saved the city from destruction in 1170. Accounts vary, but tend to
go something like this…
