Detinets- This is the Novgorod Kremlin. In principle, earlier (XI-XIV centuries) all Russian Kremlins were called detintsy, but for some reason this name has stuck to the Novgorod one to this day. The origin of the word "detinets" is still debated. There is a version that it arose from the word "children"! Since, during enemy attacks, children were hidden behind the walls of the fortress. According to another version, from the word "children" - that was the name of the princely combatants. Someone erects the etymology of the word from the verb "det" - to place; and "grandfathers" - elders.
A GARDEN DISTRICT \u003d FORTRESS.
And this is all during the time of WOODEN fortresses, centuries before the XIII - XIV? (before firearms, for sure).
In 1333, a gradual restructuring of the citadel from wooden to stone began. This construction was gradual and long. First, all the towers were erected in stone in turn, and then the walls were rebuilt. Stone construction was completed only by the end of the 15th century, when Novgorod was conquered by the Moscow prince Ivan III.
1. The Novgorod citadel stands on a hill located at a height of 10 m above the Volkhov level. 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. 
2. The walls are made of limestone and cobblestones with lime mortar, the outer layer is made of red brick 1-2.5 bricks thick. 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. At present, most of the walls, restored in 1950-1960. under the leadership of A. V. Vorobyov, has the appearance of the XV century. 
3. 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. 
4. The main attraction inside Detinets is St. Sophia Cathedral - the oldest Orthodox church in Russia. 
5. Sophia Cathedral was built in 1045-1050. under Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich. Consecrated by Bishop Luke. 
6. In Russia, several churches were built dedicated to Sophia, the Wisdom of God. In addition to Novgorod, also in Kyiv and Polotsk, and already centuries later in other cities. And the cathedral of the same name in Constantinople, the then center of Orthodoxy in the world, served as a prototype for them. 
7. Magdeburg gates - bronze doors of the XII century. For several centuries, the gate served as a solemn entrance to the cathedral. Currently, they are open only during the holidays, when the service is led by the Metropolitan of Novgorod and Starorussky. 
8. Muzzles holding door handles in their mouths remind me of something Buddhist-Asian. 
9. The gates were made by Western European masters. Scenes from the Old and New Testaments with figures of people, animals, architectural details are made with great artistic skill. 
10. Belfry of St. Sophia Cathedral (Sofia belfry) - an architectural monument of the XV-XVIII centuries in the Novgorod citadel. It is a multi-span wall-shaped bell-shaped structure. For the first time in the annals it is mentioned in 1437, when it contains information that during the flood the belfry fell into the Volkhov along with the fortress wall. 
11. In the belfry at the exhibition "Ancient Bells of Veliky Novgorod", 14 bells are presented: weighing from 1.5 to 20 pounds. 
12. Likhudov Corps. XVII century. 
13. The Faceted (Vladychnaya) Chamber is the only monument of civil architecture in Russia, made in the Gothic style. Solemn receptions took place in the chamber, the boyar council of gentlemen also met here. According to the chronicle, by order of the archbishop in 1436, a clock was installed on the front facade of the Faceted Chamber, which regularly struck the time. 
14. Fedorovskaya tower - a cylindrical tower of the Novgorod citadel, a monument of military defense architecture of the 15th century. The loopholes are large with arched ends, shaped like window openings closed with wooden shutters. 
15. Zlatoust tower - a quadrangular blind tower of the Novgorod citadel. The tower has four tiers, erected at the end of the 15th century. The name of the tower comes from the nearby church of St. John Chrysostom, built in the 14th century and existed until 1694. 
16. Pokrovskaya tower - a quadrangular tower of the Novgorod citadel. Built at the end of the 16th century. Rectangular in plan 16 × 10.5 m with six combat tiers. The height of the tower with battlements is 18 m, and the thickness of the walls at the level of the first tier is more than 3 m. The tower is crowned with a thirteen-meter tent, the tower protrudes beyond the fortress wall by more than 9 m. The walls of the monument are cut through by loopholes - 55 loopholes. Of all the ceilings, the duct vaults of the two lower tiers have been preserved. 
17. Kokuy (Kukui, Kalancha, Kalanchovskaya) - a quadrangular tower in the southwestern part of the Novgorod citadel. The tower is rectangular in plan 8.5 × 10.4 m. The height of the tower with a dome is 38.5 m, and the thickness of the walls at the level of the first tier is 2 m. The tower is crowned with a ten-meter tent. 
18. Prince's tower - a quadrangular tower in the southwestern part of the Novgorod citadel. The tower in plan is a “square” 9 × 9.8 m. The height of the tower with battlements is 18.5 m, and the thickness of the walls at the level of the first tier is 2 m. The tower is crowned with a ten-meter tent. 
19. Spasskaya tower - a travel tower of the Novgorod citadel, a building of the late 15th century. The tower is six-tiered, in plan it is an elongated rectangle 15 × 8.3 m. The width of the passage is 3 m. The height of the walls is 19 m, and the thickness of the walls at the level of the second tier is 2 m. The tower is crowned with a fifteen-meter tent with a watch tower, restored according to the descriptions XVII century. The southern facade is decorated with three round rosettes and an ornamental belt of rhombuses. The passage is closed with bars. A staircase in the thickness of the wall led to the second tier. The upper towers served combat purposes. 
20. Palace tower - a quadrangular deaf (impassable) tower of the Novgorod citadel. The tower in plan is a “square” 10.2 × 11.2 m. The height of the tower with battlements is 20 m, and the thickness of the walls at the level of the second tier is 2 m. The tower is crowned with a nine-meter tent. Initially, the tower had six tiers; the vault of the lower tier was presumably dismantled at the end of the 16th century. There are 37 loopholes and trench openings in the tower. There are two openings in the lower part of the tower: a door opening on the side of the citadel and a gate opening on the Volkhov side. On the facade facing the source of the Volkhov, there are decorative elements: three round rosettes, a narrow brick strip of a runner and a semi-roll; on several loopholes, internal paintings have been preserved. 
21. This place used to be the Resurrection Tower. But after the destruction, it was not restored, but a large arched passage was built on this site. 
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Novgorod Kremlin, or, as it is called, Novgorod Detinets- perhaps one of the most beautiful Kremlins that I have ever seen. Majestic fortress walls surrounded by a moat, ancient temples, first of all, Hagia Sophia of the 11th century, the Vladychny Court with the building of the Vladychnaya (Faceted) Chamber of the 15th century, bearing the features of European brick Gothic… The Kremlin is located on a hill above the Volkhov and occupies an impressive territory – 12 ,1 ha, the perimeter of its walls is 1487 meters. In plan, it has an elongated oval shape, resembling a bean with its outlines. For a long time he defended the northwestern borders of Russia.
Detinets is far from the very first Novgorod fortress. Starting with Rurik, who is called the founder of Novgorod in a number of lists of The Tale of Bygone Years, for a long time the princely residence was located upstream of the Volkhov near its source from Lake Ilmen. Prince Yaroslav the Wise moved his residence closer to Torg, to Yaroslav's Court.
The first written mention of the Novgorod Kremlin dates back to 1044. The wooden fortress was founded by Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich, son of Yaroslav the Wise. In 1136, after the expulsion of Prince Vsevolod Mstislavovich from Novgorod, Detinets became the stronghold of the Novgorod Veche Republic. Gorodische again becomes the princely residence.
In 1333, under the Novgorod archbishop Vasily (Kalika), the construction of a stone fortress began, which was caused by the need to protect Novgorod both from the encroachments of Moscow and from Sweden, which violated and seized part of the Novgorod lands. Only a century later the construction of Detinets was completed. However, in the years 1478-1490, after the entry of Novgorod into the Moscow kingdom, in connection with the development of artillery, the Kremlin was completely rebuilt.
Let's take a short walk around Detinets and admire its main attractions.
There is a large square in front of Detinets. There are several interesting monuments here. One of them - Fountain "Sadko and Princess Volkhova", created in 1978 according to the project of the Novgorod sculptor Eduard Nikolaevich Kurylev. Previously, this place was a fountain with a bust of Stalin. Since then, the fountain has fallen into disrepair and in 2009, on the occasion of the 1150th anniversary of Veliky Novgorod, it was reconstructed.
Fountain "Sadko and Princess Volkhova"
Powerful fortress walls and towers can be seen behind the trees. During their long history, they have been destroyed and rebuilt again and again. The height of the walls varies in different areas from 8 to 15 meters. A wide moat was dug in front of them.
So far, nine towers of the Novgorod Detinets have survived: Spasskaya, Dvortsovaya, Knyazhaya, Kokuy (Kukui), Pokrovskaya, Zlatoustovskaya, Metropolitan, Fedorovskaya and Vladimirskaya. Three more - Prechistenskaya (Bogoroditskaya), Borisoglebskaya and Voskresenskaya, have not survived to our time, wide passage arches have been arranged in place of the Prechistenskaya and Voskresenskaya towers.
Resurrection Arch
Information boards have been installed on the bridge spanning the Kremlin moat. Pay attention to the museums located on the territory of Novgorod Detinets.
Behind the walls you can see white clock tower, built in 1673 by order of the Novgorod Metropolitan Joachim on the site of the old tower of 1443.
Opposite the Kremlin Victory Square, rises a characteristic administrative building.
The territory of the Novgorod Kremlin is very crowded. In the summer, in the heat, you can see a lot of people in beachwear - on the other hand, on the banks of the Volkhov, there is a huge city beach. There are also crowds of tourists, staring at the sights, young people, mothers with children, an Orthodox-looking old woman.
Located almost in the very center of the Kremlin Monument "Millennium of Russia", erected in 1862 in honor of the millennial anniversary of Russian statehood. It is a ball-power on a pedestal, around which three tiers of sculptures are grouped. The top tier symbolizes Orthodoxy. The middle one is represented by six sculptural groups representing the key events of Russian history: the calling of the Varangians to Russia, the baptism of Russia, the Battle of Kulikovo, Tsar Ivan III, symbolizing the foundation of the autocratic kingdom of Russia, the beginning of the Romanov dynasty and the foundation of the Russian Empire - Tsar Peter the Great. The Lower Tier is divided into four sections: "enlighteners", "state people", "military people and heroes", "writers and artists". In total, 129 figures are presented here.
During the Great Patriotic War, it was destroyed by the Nazis, but by 1944 it was restored and solemnly opened on November 2.
The most ancient building of the Novgorod Kremlin and the whole of Veliky Novgorod is Hagia Sophia, one of the largest temples of pre-Mongolian Russia. It was built in 1045-1050, just to the north of the 13-domed wooden temple of 989 that burned shortly before. Fragments of ancient paintings dating back to 1109 have been preserved inside. The temple was seriously damaged during the Great Patriotic War, and was later restored.
Western portal of St. Sophia Cathedral: Magdeburg (Korsun, Plock, Sigtun) gates (1153) and a fresco above them
I was embarrassed to photograph the interior of the St. Sophia Cathedral - a service was in progress.
Plan of the Hagia Sophia of Novgorod. XIX century. I. Tolstoy, N. Kondakov. Russian antiquities in art monuments, issue 6: monuments of Vladimir, Novgorod and Pskov. St. Petersburg, 1899
Next to Sophia Cathedral - Church of the Entry of the Lord into Jerusalem 1759 built. Presumably, it was built according to the project of B. Rastrelli. Now here is the Lecture Hall of the Museum-Reserve. Seen behind her St. Sophia Cathedral belfry, an architectural monument of the XV-XVIII centuries.
Passing through the arch between St. Sophia Cathedral and Metropolitan chambers(first third of the 18th century), we found ourselves in front of sovereign court- the most fortified part of the Novgorod Kremlin, its citadel. In the past, the residence of the bishop was located here. From this angle, it is clearly visible that the clock tower is noticeably tilted to the northwest. But for some reason it doesn’t have the glory of the Leaning Tower of Pisa 🙁
One of the most interesting buildings of the Vladychny Court is Vladychnaya, or Faceted Chamber, an architectural monument of the 15th century. It was founded in 1433 by order of Archbishop Evfimy of Novgorod. Russian and German masters took part in its construction, giving it pronounced late Gothic features. It reminded me of the architecture of the Church of St. Francis of Assisi in Vilnius.
The Lord's Chamber is one of the oldest civil buildings not only in Veliky Novgorod, but throughout Russia. In the past, meetings of the court and the council of the nobility of the Novgorod Republic were held here, and in 1478, the decree of Ivan III on the annexation of Novgorod to Moscow was announced within its walls. Now there is a museum in the premises of the Vladyka's Chamber, where many interesting exhibits are presented, including the famous Novgorod birch bark documents.
Nowadays, the Vladyka's Chamber is an unusual combination of ancient and modern architectural forms. On the one hand, elements of the 15th century, and on the other, modern materials and laconic lines. One can argue about the acceptability of such an approach to the restoration of a historical object, but, in my opinion, it turned out to be very interesting.
From the Main Hall of the Vladyka's Chamber, you can get to other rooms of this unique building. Fragments of ancient frescoes have been preserved here.
Likhudov Corps, XVII - early XVIII centuries
On the territory of the Novgorod Kremlin there are buildings of a later time. For example - Office building, erected in 1783-1786 according to the project of the provincial architect V.S. Polivanov. During the Great Patriotic War, it was destroyed, restored in 1948-1957. Now the Novgorod Museum of History, Architecture and Art and the Novgorod Regional Scientific Library are located here.
Novgorod Detinets stands on the banks of the Volkhov. A magnificent panorama of Yaroslav's Court and Torg opens from here. If Novgorod stands at the source of the Volkhov, then it is near its mouth. Thus, these two ancient cities controlled this great river throughout its entire length and, thus, partly the trade routes "from the Varangians to the Greeks" and "from the Varangians to the Arabs."
I did not want to leave the Novgorod Kremlin - there were still many unseen objects. But, as always, the road was waiting for us.
Monument to Rachmaninov near the Novgorod Kremlin
Travel Information
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During a trip to Veliky Novgorod during the New Year holidays, we managed to walk around Detinets, around it, and even take photos and videos from the copter.
Detinets- This is the Novgorod Kremlin. In principle, earlier (XI-XIV centuries) all Russian Kremlins were called detintsy, but for some reason this name has stuck to the Novgorod one to this day. The origin of the word "detinets" is still debated. There is a version that it arose from the word "children"! Since, during enemy attacks, children were hidden behind the walls of the fortress. According to another version, from the word "children" - that was the name of the princely combatants. Someone erects the etymology of the word from the verb "det" - to place; and "grandfathers" - elders.
The main misconception about the Novgorod citadel is the opinion that it was here that Rurik came to reign, and subsequently Oleg and the young Igor went from here to conquer Kyiv. In fact, the first chronicle mention of the Novgorod fortress dates back to 1044. In that year, the first wooden fortress was laid, it was under Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich. Who was the son of Yaroslav Mudrov, the grandson of the Baptist of Russia Vladimir, the great-grandson of Svyatoslav, and the great-great-grandson of the aforementioned young prince Igor.
In 1333, a gradual restructuring of the citadel from wooden to stone began. This construction was gradual and long. First, all the towers were erected in stone in turn, and then the walls were rebuilt. Stone construction was completed only by the end of the 15th century, when Novgorod was conquered by the Moscow prince Ivan III.
1. The Novgorod citadel stands on a hill located at a height of 10 m above the Volkhov level. 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.
2. The walls are made of limestone and cobblestones on lime mortar, the outer layer is made of red brick 1-2.5 bricks thick. 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. At present, most of the walls, restored in 1950-1960. under the leadership of A. V. Vorobyov, has the appearance of the XV century.
3. 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.
4. The main attraction inside Detinets is St. Sophia Cathedral - the oldest Orthodox church in Russia.
5. Sophia Cathedral was built in 1045-1050. under Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich. Consecrated by Bishop Luke.
6. In Russia, several churches were built dedicated to Sophia, the Wisdom of God. In addition to Novgorod, also in Kyiv and Polotsk, and already centuries later in other cities. And the cathedral of the same name in Constantinople, the then center of Orthodoxy in the world, served as a prototype for them.
7. Magdeburg gates - bronze doors of the XII century. For several centuries, the gate served as a solemn entrance to the cathedral. Currently, they are open only during the holidays, when the service is led by the Metropolitan of Novgorod and Starorussky.
8. Muzzles holding door handles in their mouths remind me of something Buddhist-Asian.
9. The gates were made by Western European masters. Scenes from the Old and New Testaments with figures of people, animals, architectural details are made with great artistic skill.
10. St. Sophia Cathedral belfry (Sofia belfry) - an architectural monument of the XV-XVIII centuries in the Novgorod citadel. It is a multi-span wall-shaped bell-shaped structure. For the first time in the annals it is mentioned in 1437, when it contains information that during the flood the belfry fell into the Volkhov along with the fortress wall.
11. In the belfry at the exhibition "Ancient Bells of Veliky Novgorod", 14 bells are presented: weighing from 1.5 to 20 pounds.
12. Likhudov Corps. XVII century.
13. The Faceted (Vladychnaya) Chamber is the only monument of civil architecture in Russia, made in the Gothic style. Solemn receptions took place in the chamber, the boyar council of gentlemen also met here. According to the chronicle, by order of the archbishop in 1436, a clock was installed on the front facade of the Faceted Chamber, which regularly struck the time.
14. Fedorovskaya tower - a cylindrical tower of the Novgorod citadel, a monument of military-defensive architecture of the 15th century. The loopholes are large with arched ends, shaped like window openings closed with wooden shutters.
15. Zlatoust tower - a quadrangular blind tower of the Novgorod citadel. The tower has four tiers, erected at the end of the 15th century. The name of the tower comes from the nearby church of St. John Chrysostom, built in the 14th century and existed until 1694.
16. Pokrovskaya tower - a quadrangular tower of the Novgorod citadel. Built at the end of the 16th century. Rectangular in plan 16 × 10.5 m with six combat tiers. The height of the tower with battlements is 18 m, and the thickness of the walls at the level of the first tier is more than 3 m. The tower is crowned with a thirteen-meter tent, the tower protrudes beyond the fortress wall by more than 9 m. The walls of the monument are cut through by loopholes - 55 loopholes. Of all the ceilings, the duct vaults of the two lower tiers have been preserved.
17. Kokuy (Kukui, Kalancha, Kalanchovskaya) - a quadrangular tower in the southwestern part of the Novgorod citadel. The tower is rectangular in plan 8.5 × 10.4 m. The height of the tower with a dome is 38.5 m, and the thickness of the walls at the level of the first tier is 2 m. The tower is crowned with a ten-meter tent.
18. Prince's tower - a quadrangular tower in the southwestern part of the Novgorod citadel. The tower in plan is a “square” 9 × 9.8 m. The height of the tower with battlements is 18.5 m, and the thickness of the walls at the level of the first tier is 2 m. The tower is crowned with a ten-meter tent.
19. Spasskaya tower - the travel tower of the Novgorod citadel, the structure of the end of the 15th century. The tower is six-tiered, in plan it is an elongated rectangle 15 × 8.3 m. The width of the passage is 3 m. The height of the walls is 19 m, and the thickness of the walls at the level of the second tier is 2 m. The tower is crowned with a fifteen-meter tent with a watch tower, restored according to the descriptions XVII century. The southern facade is decorated with three round rosettes and an ornamental belt of rhombuses. The passage is closed with bars. A staircase in the thickness of the wall led to the second tier. The upper towers served combat purposes.
20. Palace tower - a quadrangular deaf (impassable) tower of the Novgorod citadel. The tower in plan is a “square” 10.2 × 11.2 m. The height of the tower with battlements is 20 m, and the thickness of the walls at the level of the second tier is 2 m. The tower is crowned with a nine-meter tent. Initially, the tower had six tiers; the vault of the lower tier was presumably dismantled at the end of the 16th century. There are 37 loopholes and trench openings in the tower. There are two openings in the lower part of the tower: a door opening from the citadel side and a gate opening from the Volkhov side. On the facade facing the source of the Volkhov, there are decorative elements: three round rosettes, a narrow brick strip of a runner and a semi-roll; on several loopholes, internal paintings have been preserved.
21. This place used to be the Resurrection Tower. But after the destruction, it was not restored, but a large arched passage was built on this site.
22. Excursions around Detinets are led by such boyars. 
23. In front of the entrance to Detinets, grandfather plays the accordion. 
24. 
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.
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.
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 Russia, 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.
Most linguists associate the origin of the word "detinets" (Veliky Novgorod, Kyiv and other large cities had similar structures) with the same root "children". So, 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.
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 present 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.
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 Russia. 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 appearance of the fortress from the 15th century.
It is known about the existence of twelve towers on the territory of citadel. Only nine have survived to this day:
It is known about the destruction and reconstruction of three towers: Borisoglebskaya, Voskresenskaya, Prechistenskaya.
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.
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.
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 Russia and revered mainly in Moscow, Sergius of Radonezh.
Novgorod detinets (scheme 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.
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.
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:
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 years old can go to some objects completely free of charge.
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.
Sights and history of the Novgorod Kremlin, what to see for a tourist in the Kremlin ...
The Novgorod Kremlin (Detinets) is a federal museum-reserve, included in the UNESCO list.
Having visited the Novgorod Kremlin, a tourist comes into contact with the culture and history of Ancient Russia, gets real pleasure, admiring the beauty of the architectural solutions of ancient builders and the views from the belfry and towers.
Novgorod Kremlin, and in the old days it was called Detinets, the oldest of all surviving. The first mention of it dates back to 1044. The Novgorod Kremlin was founded by Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich, on the left bank of the Volkhov.
However, scientists suggest that before the first mention, there were already fortifications here, and the construction of the Kremlin was their expansion.
The original Detinets was made of wood, but over the years it was rebuilt many times, and finally, after the annexation of Novgorod to the Moscow State in the 15th century, it became stone. By the way, the Moscow Kremlin was also rebuilt around the same period. This is probably why the walls of the Moscow and Novgorod Kremlins are similar.
Until the 18th century, the Novgorod Kremlin performed purely defensive functions in the north-west of Russia. And after the annexation of the Baltic states to Russia, it lost its defensive purpose, however, like many other fortresses of Russia.
The Novgorod Kremlin has an irregular oval shape with twelve towers. Nine have survived to our time, two of them: Fedorovskaya and Metropolitan have a circular cross section, and the rest: Vladimirskaya, Spasskaya, Zlatoustskaya, Palace, Pokrovskaya, Knyazhaya and Kukuy, are rectangular.
Nearby is an exhibition of the bells of Veliky Novgorod. The belfry is equipped with an observation deck, which offers a magnificent view of the entire ancient city.
Many monuments related to civil architecture have been preserved in Detinets. One of them is the building of the Offices, a worthy example of the architecture of the 18th-19th centuries. Today it houses a museum-reserve.
The main attraction of the Novgorod Kremlin, as significant as the St. Sophia Cathedral, is located in the center of the Kremlin.
The opening of the monument took place in 1862. In the center of the monument there is a “power” with a cross at the top. High relief figures of outstanding figures of Russian literature, history, art and science from the princes of the 10th-11th centuries to the famous representatives of the culture of the 19th century are placed on the pedestal around the orb-power, reflecting the main stages in the formation of the Russian state.
Sights of the Novgorod Kremlin
A traveler who is on the territory of Novgorod Detinets will never pass by the Clock Ringer, since this ancient Russian monument is visible from afar and looks great up close.
Faceted ChamberThe Novgorod Chamber of Facets is the most curious monument of ancient Russian architecture. It is located in the north of Detinets - behind the square, between the shadows of the trees of which until 1993 the famous Russian poet Gavriil Romanovich Derzhavin (1743-1816) rested. Outwardly, the Faceted Chamber now looks unremarkable: time and constant restructuring have quite distorted its original appearance. But an inquisitive lover of ancient Russian architecture will immediately identify the signs that testify to the very respectable age of this building. |
