Novgorod Kremlin Detinets in Veliky Novgorod and St. Sophia Cathedral full review and photos.

Continuing the series of articles Kremlins of Russia » a story about Novgorod Kremlin .

Detinets, as it was called in the old days, is the oldest surviving one. It was first mentioned in chronicles in 1044. The Novgorod Kremlin was founded by Prince Vladimir, son of Yaroslav the Wise, on the left bank of the Volkhov River. It is assumed that before the first mention in the annals of Detinets, there were already defensive fortifications on this site, and the construction of the Kremlin was their expansion, moreover, it was possibly associated with the beginning of the construction of St. Sophia Cathedral. Initially, Detinets was wooden, in subsequent years the Kremlin was repeatedly rebuilt, and in the 15th century, when Novgorod was annexed to the Muscovite state during the reign of the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III, it was finally rebuilt in stone. Italian craftsmen were invited by the Moscow government to reconstruct the fortress walls and towers. In connection with the emergence of a new type of weapon - artillery, and in order to be able to install it on the fortress walls, the walls had to be rebuilt according to the latest military engineering architecture. By the way, at about the same time, the walls were rebuilt, also with the involvement of the Italians. Perhaps that is why the wall structures of the Novgorod and Moscow Kremlins have some similarities. Novgorod Kremlin until the 18th century. was an important defensive fortress on the northwestern border of Rus'. And in the XVIII century, the Baltic states were annexed to Russia, and Detinets, like many fortresses of Ancient Rus', lost its defensive purpose.

North-western border of the Russian state in the XVII century.

North-western border of the Russian Empire in the XVIII-XIX centuries.

In plan, the Novgorod Kremlin has an irregular oval shape. The area occupied by the Kremlin is 12.1 hectares, the length of the walls is 1487 m, the walls of the Kremlin are from 8 to 15 m high, from 3.6 m to 6.5 m thick. Of the 12 towers of the Kremlin, 9 have survived to this day. the towers are circular in cross-section, while the rest are rectangular and each has its own personality.

1 - Palace Tower, 2 - Spasskaya Tower, 3 - Knyazhaya Tower, 4 - Kokuy Tower, 5 - Pokrovskaya Tower, 6 - Zlatoust Tower, 7 - Metropolitan Tower, 8 - Fedorovskaya Tower, 9 - Vladimirskaya Tower, 10 - Secret Water Gate , 11 - Boyarsky water gates, 12 - Prechistinskaya arch, 13 - Resurrection arch, 14 - St. Sophia Cathedral, 15 - Belfry of St. Sophia Cathedral, 16 - Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem, 17 - Nikitsky building, 18 - Faceted Chamber, 19 - Chapel and gate church of St. Sergius of Radonezh, 20 - Likhudov Corps, 21 - Metropolitan's quarters, 22 - the monument "Millennium of Russia", 23 - the Church of St. Andrew Stratilat, 24 - Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 25 - building of the Offices, 26 - Judicial town

Sights of the Novgorod Kremlin.

The architectural ensemble of the Novgorod Kremlin surprisingly combines and combines into one whole the monuments of church, civil and military Russian architecture.

Almost all churches have been preserved on the territory of the Novgorod Kremlin. And here is the oldest surviving in modern Russia - this is St. Sophia Cathedral, the same one that was built by Prince Vladimir Yaroslavovich. The walls of the cathedral are snow-white, made of limestone, the cathedral is crowned with five chapters, the sixth is above the entrance tower. On the cross of the main, gilded dome is a lead figure of a dove - a symbol of the Holy Spirit. Frescoes and paintings of the 11th-12th centuries inside and on the outer wall of the St. Sophia Cathedral have been partially preserved. The remains of six saints rest in the cathedral. Sophia Cathedral is an active temple.

Saint Sophia Cathedral

Fresco of St. Sophia Cathedral

In the southeastern part of Detinets there is a small church of St. Andrew Stratilat built in the 15th-17th centuries. The church has one small cupola, and above the entrance there is a single-span belfry. The Church of St. Andrew Stratilates was built on the site of the destroyed temple of Boris and Gleb. Inside the church, fragments of frescoes have been preserved on the walls.

Church of St. Andrew Stratilates

In the northern part of the Kremlin is the Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh (built in the 15th century). It is unique in that it is the only surviving gate church not only in Novgorod, but throughout Russia. In the 15th century, five travel towers of the Novgorod Kremlin had gate churches. This was a distinctive feature of Detinets from other Kremlins. The Church of St. Sergius of Radonezh is small, rectangular in cross-section with a three-pitched dome, originally it was a brownie. Inside the temple is painted with frescoes, which are miniature compositions telling about the life of Sergius of Radonezh. Currently, the building of the church is the repository of the museum.

The gate church of St. Sergius of Radonezh with the Clock Ringer. On the left is the Ioannovsky building, on the right is the building of the Judgment and Spiritual orders. View from the north side.

From the east, the building of the Ioannovsky building adjoins the gate church of St. Sergius of Radonezh. And from the west, the Clock Ringer is closely adjacent - this is a clock tower, built in the 17th century. The clock ringer is the tallest structure of the Novgorod Kremlin, its height reaches 40 m. In the upper part of the tower there are 4 clock faces on the cardinal points. Another feature of the Clock Ringer is that it has a noticeable slope. The building of the Likhudov Corps adjoins the tower from the west; in ancient times, the Slavic-Greek school was located in it.

In the foreground is the building of the Ioannovsky Corps, behind it is the Chasozvonya, and in the background is the Likhudov Corps. Behind the building of the Ioannovsky Corps, you can see the dome of the Metropolitan Tower.

In general, in the northern part of Detinets in ancient times there was the Vladychny yard, it adjoined the St. Sophia Cathedral and was tightly separated from the rest of the Novgorod Kremlin. And it was only possible to get to the Vladychny Court through the gate at the southwestern corner of Sofia, today there is an arched passage under the gallery connecting the Metropolitan's chambers with the St. Sophia Cathedral at this place. The wealthiest Novgorod bishops lived in the chambers of the Vladychny Court. The Novgorod Veche gathered on the courtyard square, and the “council of gentlemen” gathered in the Faceted Chamber.

To this day, from the buildings of the Vladychny Court, the Faceted Chamber, the Nikitsky Corps, the Likhudov Corps, the Chasozvonya, the gate church of St. Sergius of Radonezh, the building of the Judgment and Spiritual orders have survived.

Nikitsky Corps

Likhudov Corps

The Faceted Chamber, or it was also called the Vladychnaya Chamber, was built in 1433. The vault of the ceremonial hall of the Faceted Chamber rests on a massive pillar installed in the center of the room. The surface of the vault is covered with edges - ribs. Hence the name of the Faceted Chamber. The building itself was built in the brick Gothic style. Now in the Palace of the Facets there is a museum, where expositions of the treasures of Russian applied and jewelry art of the XI-XII centuries are presented. Also here are stored the salaries of icons and gospels, church utensils, items of church vestments and the most unique monuments of ancient Russian writing.

Faceted Chamber

On the territory of the Vladychny Court, there was once a large building of the Archbishop's Palace, built in the 15th century. The building has not been preserved, and the idea of ​​​​it develops from archaeological excavations. The surviving remains of the palace are open for viewing. An interesting fact is that the palace had running water and sewerage, which was a rarity for the 15th century. Clay pipes that served as water pipes and the remains of sewerage devices were found, which are the most ancient in Russia.

Along the western wall of the southern part of the Kremlin was the Voivodeship Court. Its construction was carried out at the end of the 17th century, and until that time the Local Court was located here.

The complex of buildings of the Voivodeship Court included the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God. This is the only surviving building of the Voivodship Court. The main building of the church was built in the 14th century, and it was rebuilt several times in the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. The fate of this temple is also unusual. In the 17th century it was the home church of the Novgorod governors. When a women's prison was built in the Intercession Tower, which is closely adjacent to the Intercession Church (1810-1832), the church became part of the prison complex. In the 1860s, a provincial archive was placed here, and in 1889 an almshouse. In 1937-1938, the Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God was adapted for museum expositions and museum storage. During the Great Patriotic War, the church was badly damaged. After its restoration in the post-war years, there was a workshop and a warehouse. After the next restoration of the Intercession Church and the tower in 1968, they were adapted for the Detinets restaurant, which functioned here until 2009. Now the Church of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary has been transferred to the Russian Orthodox Church.

Church of the Intercession of the Holy Mother of God

And at the next tower - Zlatoust, there is also an interesting white building. It was attached to the tower at the end of the 18th century in the form of two outbuildings. And the whole complex was adapted for a men's prison. The tower contained the arrested, in the southern wing there was a guardhouse, and in the north - the prison hospital. Now the complex of the Zlatoust Tower houses the services of the Novgorod State United Museum-Reserve.

A complex of extensions to the Zlatoust tower.

Above the eastern Kremlin wall of Detinets rises a beautiful wall-like structure with five arches and one octagonal cupola. This is the belfry of St. Sophia Cathedral - an architectural monument of the XV - XVIII centuries. Near the belfry there is an exhibition "Ancient bells of Veliky Novgorod", there are 14 bells, weighing from 24 kg (1.5 poods) to 320 kg (20 poods). In the Belfry there is an observation deck, which is open to the public during the warm season every day. It offers a magnificent panorama of Veliky Novgorod.

Exhibition "Ancient bells of Veliky Novgorod" in front of the belfry of St. Sophia Cathedral

Not far from the belfry of St. Sophia Cathedral is the Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem (built in the late 18th century). In 1930, some attributes of the church, including the dome, were dismantled. At present, the Lecture Hall of the Novgorod Museum is located here.

Church of the Lord's Entry into Jerusalem

Many monuments of civil architecture have been preserved in the Novgorod Kremlin. One of the largest buildings in the Kremlin, the Government Building, is an example of the architecture of the 18th-19th centuries. Now it houses the Novgorod United Museum-Reserve and exhibits the expositions "History of the Novgorod Territory", "Russian Art of the 18th - 20th Centuries", "Old Russian Icon Painting".

Office building

Sculpture of a lion in front of the entrance to the building of the Offices

Next to the building of the Presences is the Judicial Town. In 1778, Catherine II approved a project for the redevelopment of Novgorod, according to which the southern part of the Kremlin was planned to be cleared of old buildings and built up with new administrative and residential buildings. According to this project, three residential buildings were built for the clergy of the St. Sophia Cathedral. The buildings are small, two-storied and are a typical example of a modest residential building of the late 18th century in the style of provincial classicism. Now these buildings house the Children's Art School and the Children's Music Center, as well as exhibitions and expositions. And opposite the building of the Offices, in the Metropolitan's chambers restored after the Great Patriotic War, there is the Novgorod Regional Philharmonic. So the Novgorod Kremlin is not only the historical center of Russia, but the cultural center of the Novgorod region.

Judicial town

Well, the main attraction of the Novgorod Kremlin, as significant as the St. Sophia Cathedral, is the Millennium of Russia monument, located in the very center of the Kremlin. Its grand opening took place on September 8, 1862. The monument was erected in honor of the millennial anniversary of the calling of the Varangians to Rus', which marked the beginning of Russian statehood. In 862, representatives of the Slavic and Finnish tribes, in order to stop civil strife in northern Rus' between their tribes, invited the prince from outside. It turned out to be Rurik, who later became the ancestor of the royal, Rurik dynasty. The monument "Millennium of Russia" symbolizes "autocracy, Orthodoxy and nationality." Its height is 15.7 m, and its circumference is 27 m, it resembles a bell or "Monomakh's cap". In the center there is a huge ball depicting a "power" with a cross rising above. Around the ball-power on the pedestal are large high relief figures, various figures of Russian history, science, art and literature, ranging from the Kiev princes of the 10th-11th centuries and up to the outstanding representatives of Russian culture of the mid-19th century, which, according to the author's intention, were to reflect the main periods history of the Russian state.

Monument "Millennium of Russia"

The Novgorod Kremlin is a museum-reserve of federal significance and is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. By visiting the Novgorod Kremlin, you will get in touch with the history and culture of Ancient Rus', enjoy the beauty of architectural forms and wonderful views from the observation decks of the towers and the belfry, and just relax, there are wonderful squares here.

“Here is the Russian spirit, here it smells of Russia…”

Here, every stone is the edge of feelings

keeps a radiant imprint

your steps, dear Rus'!

, like all Kremlins of Russia , this is our greatest asset, our history.

Interesting excursions in Veliky Novgorod.

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One of the oldest monuments of Russian military-defensive architecture is the Novgorod Kremlin, or, as it is also called, detinets. The object includes buildings of various time intervals and eras, but all of them as a whole constitute a unique and inimitable complex that characterizes the Novgorod Republic to a greater extent even before the moment of centralization of power in Moscow.

Novgorod Kremlin

The ancient complex of buildings is a fortress of Veliky Novgorod. The majestic building is located on the left bank of the Volkhov River. However, if you decide to visit the Novgorod Detinets, it is best to know the official address: Veliky Novgorod, ter. Kremlin, 11. The building is an important architectural monument and is protected by the state at the federal level, in addition, the museum-reserve is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as an integral part of the historical part of the city. The first written mention of the Kremlin dates back to 1044. Of course, he, like everything else, is subject to aging, time does not pass without a trace for him, and some parts are irretrievably lost.

Kid, why is it called that?

Surely everyone who hears such a name for the first time is in some bewilderment, because the word "Kremlin" is more familiar, common among the people. Meanwhile, in Rus', the citadel was called nothing more than the inner part of the fortress of the city, which were a common phenomenon in the era of fragmentation. In ancient chronicles, for the first time, the word begins to occur in 1097, and only in it was the term “Kremlin” supplanted. Subsequently, it continues to exist only in written sources of Novgorod-Pskov origin, so it can partly be interpreted as dialectism.

Versions of the origin of the word

Most linguists associate the origin of the word "detinets" (Veliky Novgorod, Kyiv and other large cities had similar structures) with the same root "children". Thus, in 1808, the bishop of the Russian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Eugene, expressed the opinion that all children were sheltered in the fortress during enemy raids, which is why the name subsequently went. The Soviet historian and archaeologist, who conducted excavations in the Novgorod Kremlin, believed that it got its name because of the princely combatants who lived in it. They were called children or youths. However, in reality, there were no princes in the citadel - they settled nearby in the settlement.

According to Academician Yanin V. L., the Novgorod detinets, like all the others, got its name due to the fact that, perhaps, councils of elders were held in it.

Another common version was expressed by a Russian military engineer. It is quite simple and logical. The word "children" comes from the verb "child". This is explained by the fact that during times of danger, women and children, church shrines, and property were hidden in the fortress. This version is somewhat similar to the first one.

Novgorod detinets: a brief history

It is known that the northern part of the territory, on which the Kremlin is now located, was previously the delta of the Volkhov River and was divided into two regions. Presumably, the very first detinets occupied a middle position and was located on the northern island. It was built of wood, and was laid by his son Yaroslav the Wise - Prince Vladimir Yaroslavovich. In 1045, he initiated the construction of the main temple of the city - St. Sophia Cathedral, which lasted seven years. The consecration took place in 1052, and a month later Vladimir died and was buried in a new church.

The Novgorod Kremlin-Detinets (Great Region) burned repeatedly. So, in 1097, little was left of it, and a new one was erected only in 1116, and by that time it had reached its modern size. During this period, an impressive part of the territory fell on the Vladychiy yard - the residence of the bishop. It was he who in 1333 began the construction of a stone fortress, fearing an attack not only by the Swedes and the Horde, but also by Prince Ivan Kalita. The complete replacement of wood with stone took place only in the 30s of the 15th century. A more reliable building, however, also gradually collapsed over time and was restored again. During World War II, when Veliky Novgorod was occupied by the Germans, the citadel (Kremlin) was used as a barracks for soldiers.

The next large-scale destruction occurred in the 90s of the last century, when the wall near the Spasskaya Tower (20 meter gap) partially collapsed. A few years later, the fence was restored. Now the Kremlin has the status of the Novgorod State United Museum-Reserve.

Main architectural characteristics

From time immemorial, fortresses and defensive structures were built on a hill, mainly for a better view and inaccessibility for the enemy, as well as near rivers. Detinets (Veliky Novgorod) meets all these rules. It rises on a small hill - 10 meters above the Volkhov level. Along the perimeter of the outer walls, its length is 1487 m, and the internal area of ​​​​the territory is 12.1 hectares.

The imposing walls are made of bricks made with lime mortar and stone (cobblestone and limestone). The thickness and height of the walls of the fortress varies between 3.6-6.5 m and 8-15 m, respectively. A distinctive feature of the fortress is the construction of gate temples, that is, churches located above the fortress gates. This is a characteristic feature of church and, in particular, monastic architecture in Rus'. The ideological significance was that with the help of such a building the heavenly protection of the city was carried out. The fact that the Novgorod Detinets has several of them is explained by the leading role of the bishops in the construction. Almost all the walls were restored in the 50-60s of the last century and correspond to the external appearance of the fortress from the 15th century.

Towers of the Novgorod Kremlin

It is known about the existence of twelve towers on the territory of citadel. Only nine have survived to this day:

• Spasskaya (pictured above) - looks like an elongated rectangle, divided into six tiers, the height and thickness of the walls are 19 and 2 m, respectively. At the top, a 15-meter tent with a watch tower was built, which was restored according to the descriptions of the 17th century. The arched passage is blocked by a lattice, from the north the destroyed Church of the Transfiguration of the Savior adjoins the facade of the tower. It was she who gave her the name. Novgorod Detinets (Veliky Novgorod) is recognized precisely by the Spasskaya Tower, which, moreover, was once depicted on a banknote of 5 rubles.
• Palace - a blind tower without a passage, a quadrangular shape, which is essentially a square of 11.2x10.2 m, the height of the walls is 20 m, and the thickness to the level of the second tier is 2 m, at the top is a tent. It is distinguished from other towers by its slender silhouette.
• Knyazhaya - outwardly similar to the previous one, also a blind tower 18.5 m high.
• Kokuy (Kalancha) is a blank quadrangular tower without passage, the height of which, together with the dome, is 38.5 m, the thickness of the walls is similar to the previous ones. Now it houses an observation deck with a panoramic view of part of the Kremlin.
• Pokrovskaya is a massive building 18 m high and 3 m thick walls in the southwestern part of the fortress. It protrudes beyond its limits by 9 m, and the walls are pierced by 55 loopholes.
• Zlatoustskaya is a deaf quadrangular tower of four tiers, the name of which was given by the temple of the 14th century standing nearby.
• Vladimirskaya - through it they got to Novgorodsky detinets (Veliky Novgorod), it is a travel card, quadrangular, height - 17.8 m. There is a ten-meter tent at the top. A distinctive feature is the loopholes with an arched top resembling windows.
• Fedorovskaya - a cylindrical tower with arched loopholes
• Metropolitan - is a monument of military-defensive architecture, like the two previous towers. The construction is cylindrical, deaf, the thickness of the walls is just over 3 m, the height is 16.3 m.

It is known about the destruction and reconstruction of three towers: Borisoglebskaya, Voskresenskaya, Prechistenskaya.

Saint Sophia Cathedral

The white-stone temple is the oldest on the territory of modern Russia of those built by the Slavic people. Built in 1045-1050, for several centuries it was the spiritual center of the entire Novgorod Republic.

This is a cross-domed five-nave cathedral. Such structures are typical for the architecture of the 11th century. However, not only the Novgorod Detinets (Veliky Novgorod) is famous for it - there are cathedrals with the same name in Polotsk and Kyiv. The building has three apses (rounded side and five-sided central), from all sides it is surrounded by a three-story gallery. The cathedral has five domes, and the sixth crowns the stair tower in the western part. They are characterized by a special form of poppies - in the form of helmets. The maximum height of the St. Sophia Cathedral is 38 m, the thickness of the walls is 1.2 m, limestone was used for their construction. The church was built in the traditional Byzantine style.

Holy places are always covered with legends. So, on the central dome, on the cross, there is a figurine of a dove, personifying the Holy Spirit. Ivan the Terrible in 1570 brutally cracked down on the Novgorodians. According to legend, a dove, sitting on a cross to rest, saw a bloody battle and was petrified from the experienced feeling of horror. Subsequently, the Mother of God told one of the monks that the bird was sent to the city as a consolation and a talisman. Novgorod will be kept until the dove flies off the cross.

Belfry of St. Sophia Cathedral

It should be considered separately from the main structure. The belfry is an architectural monument of the 15th-18th centuries, which is included in the Novgorod citadel. Veliky Novgorod (photo of panoramic view see above) is a beautiful ancient city with many cultural and historical sights. Many of them are sacred. These include, as is already clear, the St. Sophia Cathedral, and with it the belfry. Written sources first mention her in 1437, when they talk about the flood. In particular, it is said that it was collapsed along with the adjoining fortress wall. At the moment, the belfry is located on the inner eastern wall of the Kremlin, its length is 22.5 m, and its width is 3.4 m.

During the Second World War, it was badly damaged. After receiving information that the German troops were already on the way to the city, it was decided to evacuate the bells. However, during the bombing there was a direct hit directly on the barge with the three largest specimens, and they drowned in the Volkhov River. The building itself was partially destroyed by artillery.

The restored belfry of St. Sophia Cathedral was acquired by the Novgorod Detinets (Veliky Novgorod) in 1948. Now it is used for its intended purpose, in its upper part there is an observation deck and there is a permanent exhibition dedicated to the ancient bells of the city.

Church of Sergius of Radonezh

The gate structure is perhaps the only one of its kind that has survived in the north-west of the country to this day. It was erected under patronage on the territory of the Vladychny Court in the Kremlin in 1463. This time is characterized by a premonition of the fall of the Novgorod Republic under the pressure of Moscow and its annexation. However, passions gradually subsided, and the people put up with the idea of ​​centralizing the state. The church is a sign of peacefulness, spiritual rapprochement and unification with Moscow, since it was built in honor of the saint, then still almost unknown in Rus' and revered mainly in Moscow, Sergius of Radonezh.

Church of St. Andrew Stratilates

Novgorod detinets (diagram in the photo) in the southeastern part of the territory has a small but remarkable church. It was built in the 15th-17th centuries. It has a rectangular even shape in plan, a single-span belfry and a small dome that crowns the temple. Initially, the Borisoglebsky Cathedral was located on this site, which collapsed in 1682 and was subsequently dismantled to the very foundation. Only the chapel of the holy Russian warrior-martyr Andrei Stratilat remained intact. It was expanded and turned into an independent small church.

Sovereign Court

It is from him that it would be worth starting a story about the Novgorod Detinets, since this is the most ancient part of the Kremlin, from which, according to Gordienko E. A. and Yanin V. L., he originates. The Lord's Court is located in the northwestern part of the fortress. According to history, Bishop I. Korsunyanin, whose name is largely associated with the establishment of Christianity in Novgorod, occupied a small island for his court. Its borders were determined by two branches of the Volkhov. Such natural protection met all the requirements, in addition, walls protected it from the population (not always positive). After the death of the bishop, the old church of Joachim and Anna was dismantled and the St. Sophia Cathedral was erected in the immediate vicinity.

For centuries, the Vladychny Court was a fortress within a fortress and opposed itself to the princely power with all its might - secretly or directly. At the same time, each new ruler considered it his duty to build something of his own. Thus, for many years some buildings were demolished, while others were erected, built on, restored, surrounded by additional structures.

The biggest changes took place under Bishop Euthymius II (1429-1458). An ardent opponent created a unique building in Russia, and now a monument of architecture, the only building in the Gothic style - the Faceted Chamber. And if her appearance is rather modest (pictured above), then the internal architecture is simply magnificent and absolutely unique.

Information for visitors

It will be useful for all those who are planning a trip to one of the most beautiful and ancient cities in Russia and wish to visit the Novgorod Detinets (Veliky Novgorod), the opening hours of the cultural site and the cost of entrance tickets. Firstly, it should be remembered that the administration of the reserve has provided days when you can visit it absolutely free of charge:

• To all who have not yet reached the age of 18 - every first Wednesday of the month, September 1, June 1,
• Families with many children - the first Wednesday of the month.
• Students of the Nakhimov and Suvorov military schools - weekly on Mondays.
• Pensioners - October 1.
• Absolutely all citizens of the country - May 18, International Museum Day, as well as every Friday from July to August.

As for the ticket price, it is best to check the information at the box office of the museum-reserve. On its territory there is a division by objects. You can choose what you are interested in and not pay for the rest. For example, a visit to the St. Sophia belfry, the Faceted (Vladychnaya) Chamber will cost 150 rubles. Discounts are provided for students, pensioners, children under 16 can go to some objects for free.

Planning to visit Detinets (Veliky Novgorod)? Opening hours of the complex should be confirmed in advance. Many expositions are seasonal or have a division into winter and summer time, restoration work may be carried out somewhere, and the entrance will therefore be closed. For example, the Sofia belfry is available for visiting on weekdays from ten in the morning until six in the evening, and on Fridays and weekends the stay is extended until 20:00. It is possible to book tickets in advance online. All these questions of an organizational nature will be answered by the information service of the museum-reserve.

Novgorod detinets (also Novgorod Kremlin)- the citadel of Veliky Novgorod. Detinets is located on the left bank of the Volkhov River. The first chronicle mention of it dates back to 1044. An architectural monument of federal significance, protected by the state. Novgorod Detinets, as part of the historical center of Veliky Novgorod, is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

On the site of the Novgorod citadel in the X-XI centuries, there were residential estates of Lyudin end. The wooden citadel was founded under Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich, the son of Yaroslav the Wise.

In 1045, Prince Vladimir began the construction of St. Sophia Cathedral in Detinets, the main temple of the Lord of Veliky Novgorod, which was built for 7 years. Its consecration took place in 1052. After the consecration, the holy prince lived for less than a month and was buried in the church of Hagia Sophia.

The northern part of the modern Detinets was once a delta formed by a tributary of the Volkhov with two branches, the territory of which was divided into two sections with an island position.

In 1065, the wooden citadel was captured by the Polotsk prince Vseslav Bryachislavich. The fortress of the 11th century had only two gates, which were approached by the main highways of the Sofia side - the Great Street of the Nerevsky End and the Breakthrough Street of the Lyudin End. The first went to the north gate, the second to the south gate. The main street of the citadel was Piskuplya (that is, Episcopal), paved with the money of the bishop, which crossed the territory of the fortress from west to east and went to the Volkhov Great Bridge.

In the middle of the 11th century, the northeastern and southern parts of the modern Kremlin were attached to Detinets (the first part was called “Okrom”, and the second “Okolotok”). In 1097, the wooden Novgorod citadel once again burned down. Again, it was cut down only under Prince Mstislav, the son of Vladimir Monomakh, in 1116. In the same year, Detinets was enlarged to the south and reached the size of the modern Kremlin.

In 1136, the power of the prince was severely limited, and he became dependent on the veche. The princes moved to Gorodishche, and from that time Detinets became the stronghold of the new government - the Novgorod Veche Republic. A significant part of Detinets was occupied by the residence of the archbishop - Vladychny yard, which is being built up with numerous churches, residential and outbuildings. In 1262, after a fire, the walls of Detinets were rebuilt. In 1333, the Novgorod archbishop Vasily (Kalika) began the construction of a new stone citadel in Novgorod, fearing the troops of Ivan Kalita with the Horde and the Swedes. The replacement of the wooden Detinets with a stone one was completed in the 30s of the 15th century. In 1348, the Swedes, violating the Orekhov Treaty, invaded the Novgorod lands, captured Votskaya Pyatina and the Orekhov fortress, and therefore construction work in Detinets was resumed only in the second half of the 14th century. In 1437, a part of the St. Sophia belfry collapsed due to the spring flood, but two years later this part of the wall and the bell tower were restored.

A radical restructuring of Detinets took place in 1478 under the Grand Duke of Moscow Ivan III, when Novgorod entered the Muscovite state (due to the development of artillery, the loopholes of Detinets were not convenient enough to place firearms in them). The reconstruction was undertaken at the joint expense of Ivan III and Novgorod Archbishop Gennady. Construction ended in 1490. The reconstruction of Detinets was so significant that in fact it was rebuilt.

On May 7, 1862, a large section of the wall collapsed towards Volkhov, a significant part of which had been rebuilt two years earlier. For the first time, its emergency condition was noted in the middle of the 17th century. The fortress wall was built anew from new brick without any observance of the ancient forms. For the sake of economy, it was made much thinner and with very deep niches. Part of the new wall is occupied by premises arranged inside the wall for the archive of the Treasury. During the German occupation 1941-1944. these premises were used by the Nazi soldiers as barracks. On April 30, 1991, a section of the wall near the Spasskaya Tower fell (more than 20 m), and a little later, on the night of May 3-4, another part of the wall collapsed nearby, severely deforming the rampart slope. In 1994-1996, instead of the collapsed fragment of the wall between the Spasskaya and Knyazha towers, a new one was erected.

Detinets stands on a hill located above the Volkhov level at a height of 10 m. It has the shape of an irregular oval, elongated from south to north and somewhat concave from the coastal side. The outer perimeter of its walls is 1487 m, the greatest length from north to south is 565 m, the width from west to east is 220 m. The total area inside the walls is 12.1 hectares.
Walls and towers of Detinets

The walls are built of stone and brick with lime mortar. Its thickness is 1-2.5 bricks. The stonework consists of limestone and cobblestone. The thickness of the fortress walls in different parts is not the same - from 3.6 to 6.5 m. The height varies from 8 to 15 m. A distinctive feature of Novgorod Detinets was the construction of gate churches. In the construction of the gate temples of Detinets, the main role belonged to the Novgorod archbishops, and the princes no longer participated in the construction. Currently, most of the walls, restored in 1950-1960. under the leadership of A. V. Vorobyov, has the appearance of the XV century.

Not all currently accepted names of the towers are historical. The names "Palace", "Prince", "Kokuy", "Metropolitan" were introduced by the authors of local history literature at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries. (they did not have stable names in the materials of the 17th-18th centuries). Inside, each tower was divided into five or six tiers. The tiers of the towers were interconnected by wooden stairs. Each of the towers had exits to the battle course of the fortress wall. The lower tiers could be used to store ammunition. The towers, in addition, were equipped with devices for lifting guns and ammunition.

Towers of Detinets:
Spasskaya (1297), Palace, Knyazhaya, Kokuy (Kukui) - the highest tower of the citadel. Rebuilt under Peter I, Pokrovskaya (1305), Zlatoust, Metropolitan - named after the nearby metropolitan court, Fedorovskaya, Vladimirskaya.

Lost towers:
Some towers were destroyed, and instead of the Prechistenskaya and Resurrection towers, wide passage arches were arranged. Prechistenskaya (Bogoroditskaya), Borisoglebskaya, Voskresenskaya (1296).

The walls of the Novgorod citadel are depicted on the Russian banknote of 5 rubles of the 1997 model.

September 24th, 2015

(project for the site OTZYV.RU)

Last June, I stopped for two days in Veliky Novgorod, the city where Russian statehood was born eleven and a half centuries ago. Stayed at the Wind Rose Hotel. Lerida wrote a review about this hotel with which I completely agree.

After checking into a hotel, I went to see the main local attraction: the Novgorod Kremlin (detinets). The construction of the stone version of the citadel was completed in the 15th century. In the future, the fortress wall was repeatedly restored after destruction, and only 9 of the 12 towers survived.

Fragment of the longest towerless section of the wall. Arch - Boyar water gates. View from the right bank of the Volkhov River.

Right and closer. To the right of the belfry of St. Sophia Cathedral is the Secret Water Gate.

Vladimirskaya tower close-up.

She's on the inside. The facade of the tower is decorated with a decorative belt.

Let's continue moving counterclockwise. Two cylindrical towers: Fedorovskaya (left) and Metropolitan. Both were built by Archbishop Euthymius II of Novgorod as part of the Archbishop's Palace.

View of the Fedorovskaya Tower from the inside. The ruins of the aforementioned palace are visible, among which excavations are being carried out.

Here, it probably makes sense to give the layout of the Kremlin towers from Wikipedia.

The main entrance to the Kremlin is the Resurrection Arch. It is located on the site of the lost Resurrection Tower, which was completed with a gate church.

Zlatoust (left) and Pokrovskaya towers.

Kokuy is the tallest tower in the Kremlin. Former watchtower of the voivodship court.

I get up and take a few shots. The picture shows the aforementioned Zlatoust and Pokrovskaya towers. Both with extensions, about which - later.

Sofia side.

Epoch layer cake. I took a similar shot from the tower in the Spanish city of Valencia.

Tithe Monastery.

Government of the Novgorod region.

Yuriev Monastery.

Trade side and pedestrian bridge.

There, a little to the right. Veche Square and Yaroslav's Court.

Yaroslav's Courtyard and the Ancient Bargain close-up. In the foreground is a fragment of the Gostiny Dvor arcade. Behind it is an obelisk in honor of the feat of Sergeant Ivan Savvich Gerasimenko and privates Alexander Semyonovich Krasilov, Leonty Aseevich Cheremnov. All of them died in the Novgorod region, having closed on January 29, 1942, the embrasures of Nazi bunkers with their bodies. Behind the monument is the gate tower of Gostiny Dvor, to the right - Nikolsky Cathedral. Plus - several churches.

Time to get down. I take a picture of the nearest objects. In the picture - part of the territory of the lost voivodship court, Knyazhaya (closer) and the Spasskaya tower.

The prince's tower in full growth.

Spasskaya and Palace towers. The tent of the Spasskaya Tower is equipped with a watchtower. The lawn at the Palace Tower on the outer side of the Kremlin is one of the favorite summer vacation spots for citizens.

View of the Palace Tower from the inside.

That's all. The circle, or rather, an irregular oval, has closed.

The first thing a visitor sees when he crosses the Resurrection Arch of the Kremlin. Right - Prechistenskaya Arch, which is on the same axis with the Resurrection Arch and the pedestrian bridge across the Volkhov. Until 1745, in its place was the tower of the same name with a gate church. Collapsed. On the left is the Diocesan House, built in 1913 on the initiative of Archbishop Arseniy. Architect - Preobrazhensky. Style - pseudo-classicism. After the 17th year - the theater of the October Revolution, during the years of the fascist occupation - the stable, then - the drama theater, now - the regional philharmonic society.

Let's go forward a little and change the angle, turning counterclockwise by 135 degrees. To the right of the Diocesan House adjoins a bent house of the first third of the 18th century - the Metropolitan's chambers. In 1780 the building was rebuilt in the style of early classicism with baroque elements. Architect - Petr Romanovich Nikitin. Not only the metropolitan, but also other noble persons, including kings, stayed at the residence. Now it is one of the buildings of the Philharmonic.

Metropolitan quarters. Another angle.

Photo in the arch.

The main Novgorod temple, St. Sophia Cathedral, is adjacent to the chambers. The diocesan house, the Metropolitan's quarters and the St. Sophia Cathedral form a continuous southern border of the Vladychny (i.e., archbishop's) court (the residence of the Novgorod lord - the head of the executive branch of the republic) in the form of a squiggle: the numbers 27, 28 and 20, respectively, on the map, which is presented below. I will accompany further mention of objects with figures from this plan.

The most sensible scheme of the Novgorod Kremlin and its environs that I came across. Comments on it can be read here on this page.

And one more diagram. Useful for understanding the location of Vladychny and other courtyards. Taken from the page http://www.russiancity.ru/text/nov02.htm.

Also, a couple of good schemes of the Novgorod Kremlin are on the links:
http://www.ruskompas.ru/novgorodskaya_oblast_reg/velikij_novgorod/dost10469.shtml
http://arc.novgorod.ru/aleshk/ind.php3?file=article/b-krem3.txt&menu=./util/art

Sophia Cathedral (20) in all its glory. Built in 1050. The oldest Slavic Orthodox church on the territory of Russia (previously Slavic was Alanian). The domes of the temple are in the form of helmets. Museum - in Soviet times. In 1991 - returned to believers.

Stone cores of the 15th-16th centuries. at the cathedral.

The lead figure of a dove on the cross of the central dome of the cathedral. According to legend, this is a living dove, petrified (leaded, plump) from horror after watching the brutal reprisal of Ivan the Terrible over the inhabitants of Novgorod.

The Magdeburg Gates are the 12th century bronze doors of the western portal of St. Sophia Cathedral. There are different versions about the place where the gates were made and how they got to Novgorod, where they were remade by the master Avram.

Fragment of the gate.

Vladychnaya (Faceted) Chamber (22). Built in the 15th century with the participation of German architects in the Hanseatic Gothic style. Then it was rebuilt several times. Inside the chamber there are real Gothic vaults. Since 1958, an exposition has been located here that tells about the arts and crafts and jewelry of the Middle Ages.

On the left is a faceted chamber, the roof on the ground hides the remains of the chamber of Archbishop Basil Kaliki (14th century), discovered in 2008. On the right, in the background - the Nikitsky Corps (21), which forms the eastern border of the Vladychny Court. The appearance of the building took shape in the 15th-19th centuries.

Unusual window of the Nikitsky building.

Chasozvonya (36) - the clock tower, the tallest building in Detinets. It was built in the 17th century by the order of Metropolitan Joachim of Novgorod. In front of it (behind the roof over the excavations) stands the Ioannovsky (32) building (vicar building). It was built no later than the end of the 17th century. After the revolution, the building was occupied by the regional executive committee, a museum, a library, and, finally, a children's music school.

The building of the court and spiritual orders (33). Built along the Kremlin wall in the 17th century.

Another building along the wall is the Likhudov Corps (34). A Slavic-Greek school was located here (where the brothers Ioanniky and Sophrony Likhud taught), and in the 19th century a religious school. After the revolution, the building housed a tour desk and a hotel, and since 1945, a special scientific and production restoration workshop.

Leaving the Lord's Court.

In 1862, a bronze monument "The Millennium of Russia" (31) in the shape resembling a bell was erected in the center of Detinets. Architect Viktor Hartman, sculptors Ivan Shroeder and Mikhail Mekeshin. On the upper tier there are figures of an angel with a cross and a kneeling woman personifying Russia.

Fragment of the middle part of the monument. On the left - Prince Vladimir baptizes Rus', to the right - Rurik with a shield and the inscription "Summer 6370" (862 from the birth of Christ). Right - Dmitry Donskoy winner.

And here he is already on the left, and on the right - Ivan III and his defeated enemies.

Heavenly genius points the way to Peter I to the north. The total number of figures of the middle tier is 17.

Fragment of the lower tier. 109 historical figures are immortalized here, among which, for example, there are: Gedimin, Olgerd, Vitovt, Keistut, Bohdan Khmelnitsky, Bezborodko, Dibich Zabalkansky, Kantemir ...

I continue my walk inside Detinets. The picture shows the 1965 memorial "Eternal Flame of Glory" (26). It is located near the wall between the Resurrection Arch and the Zlatoust Tower. The authors are Leningrad artists and architects Ya. A. Svirsky, V. M. Skorokhodov, E. M. Rapoport, P. Yu. Yushkantsev.

Museum of Antiquities near the Zlatoust tower (8). The museum was founded in May 1865, and the building was built in 1892 in the neo-Russian style.

Intercession Church. Appeared in 1305 at the tower, which later received a similar name. The current appearance of the church settled down in the 17th century. In the 18th century there was a temple at the prison, in the 19th century there was an archive, later an almshouse. In 1968-2009 (before the tragedy with the Lame Horse), the Pokrovskaya Tower and part of the church premises were occupied by the Detinets restaurant.

Suddenly.

Judicial town (24). Three small buildings built for the residence of clergy in the 80s of the 18th century on the territory where the Voivodship Court was previously located. After the revolution, various Soviet institutions were placed in the houses, after the war - apartments for builders and restorers. Now the nearest house is occupied by the children's museum center, and the central one - by the children's art school.

Church of St. Andrew Stratilates (25). It was built (according to legend - in one day) in the 15th century as an aisle of the Borisoglebsky Cathedral, which collapsed in 1682. After the revolution - closed.

The former building of government offices (23). It was built in the classicism style in 1786. Architect - V.S. Polivanov. It housed: the treasury, the courts, the treasury chamber and other organizations. Now the building belongs to the historical and art museum.

One of the two cast-iron lions near the museum building, which were made in the 19th century for the estate of Count Arakcheev.

I move closer to the Prechistenskaya Arch.

Belfry of St. Sophia Cathedral (18). Built in 15-18 centuries. The height of the belfry allows it to rise above the Kremlin wall. There is also an observation deck here.

Next to it is an exhibition of old bells.

I leave the territory of the citadel through the Prechistenskaya arch. To be continued.

A few more photos of fragments of the Magdeburg Gates for a snack.

I recommend watching the following videos about the Novgorod citadel:
Velikiy Novgorod. Detinets and his treasures. 2 parts. Russian Orthodox TV
Velikiy Novgorod. Wonders of Russia
Veliky Novgorod city-state. Alexey Trusov (Kremlin - from the position of 19.10. Total timing - 1 hour 21 minutes)