A Trip to Veliky Novgorod

You want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city for a while? You should consider going to Veliky Novgorod, an incredibly peaceful and charming town not far from St. Petersburg.

Last Saturday, I decided to go to Veliky Novgorod for the day. I left the bus station at 7 am, and it took me three hours to get there. I wanted to see this city as we’ve been taught at University that Novgorod is one of the oldest and most important historical cities of Russia. So I jumped on the occasion to finally discover what is called "The Birthplace of Russia". What is fantastic is that you drive a few hours and you have the impression that you are in another country, as the landscapes are so different. Since the architecture of St. Petersburg is mainly European, it's always interesting to experience something new. I've been to many towns like Novgorod, very old, rich in history, but I don't think I've ever seen so many churches in a town of this size.

Once there, you can't miss the Kremlin, the main tourist attraction, in my opinion, which I fully understand since the Novgorod Kremlin was first mentioned in the chronicle of 1044 and it's still standing today. According to me, the best way to admire the red and brick towers and walls of the fortification is to come nearer to it along the Volkhov river. It is majestic.

Inside the Kremlin, you absolutely must take a few minutes to stop and appreciate this beautiful monument. It is located inside the Novgorod Kremlin and was erected there in 1862 to mark the millennium of Rurik’s arrival to the city. The monument is designed as an enormous bell that features Russian rulers, commanders and eminent personalities of Russian culture and history such as Pushkin, Peter the Great, Glinka, Lomonosov and so forth. As you walk around the monument, it feels as if you were reliving the most important events in Russian history. A lovely history lesson!

I felt very lucky because the weather was absolutely fabulous: it was not cold; the sun was shining, and the sky was blue. I was so happy to see Novgorod covered in snow; I hadn't seen snow for two years. Winters in Belgium are rainy and cloudy, we are not lucky enough to have snow.

I have to admit that it felt good to get some fresh air and to be away from all that rush and crowd. Russian nature is so breathtaking; it makes you feel very small. I recommend it 100%. Просто отдых для души.