Things to do in Veliky Novgorod and the Novgorod Region on 18-23 August

Old Market with Gottlob the merchant 6+

A guided tour of Yaroslav’s Court and the Old Market with a Hanseatic merchant.
Gottlob the merchant will take you from the 21st century to the Novgorod of times long past. You will learn about the tricks of Novgorod merchants, what they sold and what secrets one needed to know to avoid being fooled. Gottlob will also play intricate musical instruments and present a market show.
Tickets are available in the museum ticket office.
Meet your guide at the map of the Hanseatic League.
22 and 29 August 2020 at 12 noon and 2 pm

Address Yaroslav’s Court, 2 Ilyina Street

Novgorod Kremlin walking tour with a State Councillor 6+

A walk around Sennaya Square, Sofiyskaya Square and the Novgorod Kremlin with insights into the life of residents of 19th century Novgorod, as well as festivities marking the unveiling of the Millennium of Russia monument.
23 and 30 August 2020 at 12 noon and 2 pm
Meeting place: Museum Information Centre at Vazhnya on Sennaya Square

Walking tours 6+

Guided tours of the Novgorod Kremlin, including the wall-walk and Yaroslav’s Court. Daily at 10 am, 12 noon, 3 pm and 5 pm; on 19 and 26 August at 11 am, 1 pm and 4 pm.
Guided tours of the Novgorod Kremlin with access to the observation point of St Sophia’s belfry and Yaroslav’s Court. Daily (except for 19 and 26 August) at 11 am, 1 pm and 4 pm.
Guided tours of the Novgorod Kremlin with visits to St Sophia’s Cathedral and Yaroslav’s Court. Daily at 2 pm.
Meet your guide at the Millennium of Russia monument in the Kremlin.

Bus tours 6+

City highlight tours, including visits to architectural landmarks and monasteries.
Weekdays: daily except Mondays, at 12 pm. Saturday and Sunday: 11 am and 3 pm.
Meeting place: Museum Information Centre at Vazhnya on Sennaya Square

Novgorod village tour 0+

Guided tours of the Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Folk Wooden Architecture. Daily at 12 pm and 3 pm
Talisman doll workshop. Daily (except Tuesdays) at 12 pm and 2 pm

Workshop tours 6+

Learn about the work of restoration artists who preserve the frescoes in the 14th century Church of the Assumption of the Virgin on Volotovo Field.
Address Antonovo, Western wing

Journey with Onfim 0+

Guided electric cart tours of the southern part of the Novgorod Kremlin every half hour. Tuesday to Friday: 11 am to 1 pm, 2 pm to 4 pm; Saturday and Sunday: 11 am to 1 pm, 2 pm to 5 pm.
Address Children’s Museum Centre, 3 Sudeisky Gorodok, Novgorod Kremlin

Antony’s School public gusli lesson 6+

21 August at 3 pm: a lecture and concert dedicated to the Novgorod gusli, with a wing-shaped gusli workshop.
This project is for children and adults who can’t live without music and want to make music themselves. Folk musical instruments may be tricky, but you can learn to play them. Come and see for yourself!
Address Children’s Museum Centre, 3 Sudeisky Gorodok, Novgorod Kremlin

History games 6+

22 August at 1 pm: Unified Kremlin Exam, an interactive programme in the Novgorod Kremlin. 22 August at 3 pm: The Battle of the Neva in 1240, a historical re-enactment game on a scale model.
Address Children’s Museum Centre, 3 Sudeisky Gorodok, Novgorod Kremlin

One Victory for All 6+

21 August at 12 noon: The Suitcase of Memory, an interactive programme at the One Victory for All exhibition
22 August at 12 noon: Defending the Motherland as a Vocation, an interactive guided tour of the One Victory for All exhibition
This exhibition focuses on the history of the Volkhov Front, military jobs and hard workers of the home front. A special section of the exhibition is dedicated to the liberation of Novgorod on 20 January 1944, with a mini quest and an interactive area where visitors can try to pack a soldier’s backpack, decipher intelligence reports and watch military chronicles.
Address Children’s Museum Centre, 3 Sudeisky Gorodok, Novgorod Kremlin

Onfim talks 6+ 19 August at 3 pm: Visiting Onfim, a talk and wax-tablet writing workshop at the exhibition Onfim’s City
23 August at 12 noon: School with Onfim, an interactive programme with a wax-tablet writing workshop at the exhibition Onfim’s City
Address Children’s Museum Centre, 3 Sudeisky Gorodok, Novgorod Kremlin

Novgorod: City of Crafts 6+

18 August at 2 pm, 28 August at 1 pm: Serebryaniki, a workshop to create wire bracelets based on the design of archaeological finds
20 August at 2 pm: Moshenniki, a workshop on making leather wallets based on the design of archaeological finds

Address Children’s Museum Centre, 3 Sudeisky Gorodok, Novgorod Kremlin

Interactive programmes 6+

20 August at 3 pm: a talk about traditional Russian clothing and a belt plaiting workshop
Address Children’s Museum Centre, 3 Sudeisky Gorodok, Novgorod Kremlin

Puzzles and mysteries 6+

18 August at 12 noon: Mysteries of the Novgorod Kremlin guided tour
18 August at 1 pm, 25 August at 2 pm: The Mystery of Bells, an interactive guided tour and visit to St Sophia’s belfry
19 August at 1 pm: Russia in Bronze, a guided tour of the Millennium of Russia monument

Magical clay 6+

During this workshop, you will learn how to mould clay and preserve your clay art.
18 August at 3 pm: Magical Clay workshop
20 August at 12 noon: Solnyshko clay toy workshop
21 August at 2 pm: Clay Pot Tales workshop
Address Children’s Museum Centre, 3 Sudeisky Gorodok, Novgorod Kremlin

Handmade souvenirs 6+

19 August at 12 noon: bast toy workshop
21 August at 1 pm: Shapovaly wool workshop
Address Children’s Museum Centre, 3 Sudeisky Gorodok, Novgorod Kremlin

Tender imagination 6+

19 August at 2 pm: Flower Fantasy, a felt souvenir workshop
20 August at 1 pm: Cats Make Life Better, a felt souvenir workshop
23 August at 12 noon: Bird of Paradise, a felt souvenir workshop
Address Children’s Museum Centre, 3 Sudeisky Gorodok, Novgorod Kremlin

Marking Boris Nepomnyashchy’s 75th birthday 0+

The Museum of Fine Arts launched a new exhibition, Boris Nepomnyashchy Illustrates Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov: Marking People’s Artist Boris Nepomnyashchy’s 75th Birthday. From the collection of the Novgorod Museum Reserve.
Until 5 October 2020
10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Monday, 26 August.
Address Museum of Fine Arts, 2 Pobedy-Sofiyskaya Square

St Nicholas Cathedral, 1113: Research and Restoration
The exhibition marks the 900th anniversary of St Nicholas Cathedral. It is located on the ground floor of the west annex of St Nicholas Cathedral, close to the old frescoes (fragments of Job the Leper and The Last Judgement) and the restored lower level of the second stone winding staircase. The exhibition includes research materials and information about the restoration of St Nicholas Cathedral in Yaroslav’s Court, as well as construction and decorative materials, photographs, documents and personal belongings of architects and archaeologists.
Visitors can also see the Grand Market and the Prince’s Court multimedia panorama. A 360-degree panoramic screen with a diameter of 6 metres was built specifically for this new multimedia exhibit. The panorama exhibits are a new way for museum visitors to learn about the history of Veliky Novgorod. The project is curated by the Novgorod Museum Reserve.

Address St Nicholas Cathedral, Yaroslav’s Court

14th–17th century Russian wood carvings
Wood carving was one of the most common crafts in Novgorod of long ago. Wooden items were both useful and beautiful. By using the extensive capabilities of this natural material, craftsmen created carved icons, holy gates, icon shelves, church chandeliers, ambons, prayer booths, altar covers, candle holders, sculptures of saints, crosses and icon tabernacles. These centuries-old pieces of art are on display at one of the museum’s best exhibitions that also includes exclusive sculptures of saints.
Address 4 Novgorod Kremlin, Main building of the Museum Reserve
Outbuilding
The outbuilding is an interactive display in the southeastern part of the museum where common domestic animals such as horses and goats are kept. It offers daily feeding and animal care demonstrations (grooming, harnessing, saddling, hoof cleaning, horseshoeing, goat care, milking, wool combing, etc.). Visitors can take photos with the animals and ride horses.
Address Vitoslavlitsy Museum of Folk Wooden Architecture, Yuryevskoye Motorway

Falcon Yard
The exhibition focuses on the history of falconry in Russia and birds of prey that are used in hunting and inhabit the Novgorod Region. Visitors can watch exhibition falcon flights on the lawn by the Kremlin wall. The show includes mock hunting, free flight demonstrations and other skills. The falconer will talk about the history and traditions of falconry, falcons’ habits, the significance of these birds of prey, and conservation efforts. The Falcon Yard is located in the southern part of the Kremlin (the lawn between the Sudeisky Gorodok and the Prince’s Tower).
Address Falcon Yard, Novgorod Kremlin

Traditional trades of the Novgorod Land
The exhibition focuses on five crafts. The birchbark plaiting workshop showcases a collection of traditional household items, dishes and shoes found during expeditions around the Novgorod Region, as well as replicas of authentic items. The weaving workshop highlights an extensive collection of plaited and woven belts, as well as rugs, towels, muslins and fabrics with ethnic ornaments. The traditional clothing workshop has a remarkable and memorable collection of traditional Russian attire common in the Novgorod Region between the late 18th and the early 20th century. The collection of traditional musical instruments includes original folk instruments as well as replicas of the instruments popular across Russia and abroad between the 12th to the 20th centuries. The pottery workshop displays ceramic items that are complete replicas (in terms of shape, decoration and production methods) of the archaeological finds from the early Middle Ages.
Address 14 Bredova-Zverinaya

History of Novgorod and the Novgorod Land from ancient times until the 17th century
Tools, household items, crafts, military equipment and birchbark letters will take visitors to the world of Old Russia. The exhibition also includes the oldest Russian musical instruments, which indicates the high level of musical culture in ancient Novgorod, as well as chess and chequers pieces, toys unique to Veliky Novgorod, and fragments of wooden pavements that were built in Novgorod long before Paris and London. Address 4 Novgorod Kremlin, Main building of the Museum Reserve

Jewellery and Crafts of the 5th–17th Centuries
The exhibition of crafts and jewellery includes around 200 items. These are items made of precious metals, tin, porcelain, glass, wood and other materials and created by Byzantine, Russian and Western European masters. They offer a full and true picture of the development of Novgorod and Russian crafts. All exhibits are from the sacristies of local churches and monasteries.
Address 11 Novgorod Kremlin

History in Every Inch
The Novgorod Regional Folk Centre is located in the oldest residential neighbourhood of Veliky Novgorod on the Sophia side, the Nerevsky District. The Monastery of Saint Nikola the White used to stand at the northern end of the district, 250 m from the embankment of the outer town on the Volkhov River. The stone Church of St Nikola the White (19th century) is the only remaining part of the monastery’s architectural ensemble. The church exhibition focuses on the history of the Monastery of St Nikola the White through the lens of Russian history.

Toptygin and Co. is another exhibition there, of handmade teddy bears created using various techniques such as wood carving and painting, paper rope and birchbark plaiting, dough moulding, pottery, weaving, embroidery, quilting, straw appliqué, jute weaving and papier-mache. Textile, cotton wool, hay toys and knitted toys are also in abundance. The majority of the exhibits are plush teddy bears in various outfits. Address: 14 Bredova-Zverinaya Street

Handmade Belts as Talismans
An exhibition of belts and belt making tools, which features over 120 items from the collection of the Novgorod Museum Reserve dedicated to the hand weaving of belts. There are factory- and hand-made belts, belt making tools and accessories related to belt wearing, including tobacco pouches, keys and wallets. The exhibition also shows items found during archaeological digs of medieval Novgorod, including fragments of belts, weaving boards and needles.
Address 3 Nikolskaya Street

Cinema Museum: exhibition and guided tours
The museum collection features Soviet and foreign amateur and professional film technology of the 1920s to 1990s, including hundreds of film cameras, film projectors, flatbed editors and other filmmaking accessories. The museum library has books about cinema from 1913 to the 1990s and personal archives of famous actors, cameramen and cosmonauts. The exposition Black and White of the Great Silent Films is dedicated to the history of the cinema of the first half of the 20th century. The exposition I Am a Cinephile covers the history of amateur filmmaking in the Soviet Union. Stars in Kiosks is a collection of postcards and souvenir cards of Soviet cinema actors from the 1930s to the 1980s. Made in the USSR is a brief history of Soviet-made photo equipment. Free group tours. Guests can watch a documentary about the Soviet period in the history of Veliky Novgorod. There is a cache for geocaching fans in the museum.
Address 16 Rogatitsa Street

Artisan Village: immerse yourself in the history of old trades and crafts
Visitors can enjoy workshops on blacksmithing, clay moulding, weaving, handmade pattern printing on fabric, leather crafting, armour and chain mail making, coin minting, candle making and wax working. Visitors can also try archery and pose for pictures in medieval costumes.
The Artisan Village is open to visitors between 11 am and 8 pm at the Sadko Theatre.
Address 19/1 Alexander Nevsky Embankment, opposite the Rossiya Hotel

Visitors are also welcome in the Borovichi Museum, where they can spend time touring exhibitions and attend workshops.

Wednesday, 19 August,
Clay Games workshop at 12 noon
Borovichi has long been known for its talented potters who made clay pots and milk jugs of different sizes and styles, kvass jugs, large pots, saucepans, jars and more. They were produced in Poterpelitsy, Sushani, Plyos, Yogla, Velgiya and Slizenikha. The workshop will cover the history of pottery; types of clayware and their everyday uses; and proverbs, sayings and puzzles. You can also make your own clay souvenir.
Thursday, 20 August
Journey with the Little Prince interactive quest at 12 noon
The Little Prince is one of the most popular and most translated books in the world.
An exciting encounter with the Little Prince awaits young visitors in the museum’s exhibition halls. After completing difficult challenges, the expedition will turn up in Borovichi of the early 20th century.
Friday, 21 August
Archaeology Quest at 12 noon
Journey to the world of archaeology and the history of Sredneye Pomostye, from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. Explore the archaeological sites in Borovichi, from long barrows to burial grounds and hills, as well as trading routes and ancient hoards, the cultural layer and archaeological artefacts, and fascinating archaeological digs and amazing finds.
Archaeological Quest multimedia team game
This is an interactive class and guided tour with a quiz.
Saturday, 22 August
Museum Chemistry interactive children’s programme at 12 noon
An exciting journey into the history of industrial production in Borovichi in the late 19th century. Learn about the life of a prominent Russian scientist, and find out which chemical elements are contained in local minerals and how chemistry knowledge was used in industrial production in Borovichi. What made factory owner Ivan Belyayev famous? Take part in a quiz and fun chemistry experiments.
Sunday, 23 August
Painted Balalaika family art painting programme at 12 noon
This programme covers the history of and legends about the balalaika, the world-famous symbol of Russia. Many prominent artists of the 19th century tried their hand at painting this wonderful folk instrument. In the 21st century, a well-known art group called Mitki from St Petersburg also painted balalaikas and presented their works to the Museum of Theatre and Music. Guests can enjoy painting a souvenir balalaika at one of the museum’s workshops.
Prior booking is required.
Phone +7 81664 43 084
Open 9 am to 6 pm. Closed on Mondays. Closed for maintenance every last Tuesday of the month.
Address 7 Dzerzhinsky Street

The Alexander Suvorov Museum offers a workshop on folk games and guided tours of the estate.
10 am and 4 pm: Folk games workshop
12 noon and 2 pm: Alexander Suvorov Estate guided tour
Open 10 am to 4 pm. Closed on Tuesdays.
Address 19 Tsentralnaya Street, Konchansko-Suvorovskoye, Borovichsky District
Make sure to visit the Staraya Russa branch of the Novgorod Museum Reserve: the Staraya Russa Local History and Lore Museum, the Picture Gallery and the Museum of the Northwestern Front.
Opening hours:
The Local History and Lore Museum and the Picture Gallery (1 Monastyrskaya Square) are open Monday to Friday 10 am to 6 pm; Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 5 pm. Closed on Tuesdays. Closed for maintenance every last Thursday of the month. Phone +7 81652 35 866
The Museum of the Northwestern Front (23 Aleksandrovskaya Street) is open 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Mondays. Closed for maintenance every first Thursday of the month. Phone +7 81652 35 285 Phone +7 81652 35 866
Address Monastyrskaya Square, Staraya Russa
See also: The Fyodor Dostoyevsky House Museum is open 10 am to 6 pm (closed on Mondays and closed for maintenance every last Thursday of the month). The Brothers Karamazov Museum is open 10 am to 6 pm (closed on Tuesdays and closed for maintenance every first Thursday of the month).

Address 42/2 Dostoyevsky Embankment, Staraya Russa
Phone +7 81652 51 477

Closed on Mondays. Closed for maintenance every last Thursday.
The Museum of Bells is open 10 to 6 pm. Closed on Tuesdays. Closed for maintenance every last Wednesday of the month.
Phone +7 81666 20 497
The Provincial Town Museum is open 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Mondays. Closed for maintenance every first Wednesday of the month.
Phone +7 81666 26 171
The museum’s bell centre is open 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Tuesdays. Closed for maintenance every last Wednesday of the month.
Phone +7 81666 24 139
Phone +7 81666 24 139
Address 2A Truda Street, Valdai

Not far from Veliky Novgorod is the charming town of Chudovo, known for the Nikolai Nekrasov House Museum and the Gleb Uspensky House Museum. These museums are definitely worth visiting.
The Nikolai Nekrasov House Museum is open 10 am to 6 pm (closed on Mondays and closed for maintenance every first Thursday of the month).
Address 1 Kosinova Street, Chudovo
Open Tuesday to Sunday 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Mondays. Closed for maintenance every first Thursday of the month.
Phone +7 81665 54 267
The Gleb Uspensky House Museum is open 10 am to 6 pm. Closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Closed for maintenance every last Thursday of the month.
We will be delighted to see you!
Address Syabrenitsy, Chudovsky District
Open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 5 pm.
Phone +7 921 023 4465
Guided tours can accommodate up to five people. Social distancing is required. All visitors must wear face masks.
Find out more about museums and other attractions in the Novgorod Region at www.novgorod.travel
Discounts are available with the WeLike Novgorod Card. More details at novgorodcard.ru
Travel with us, Novgorodian Rus.