Since its inception, the Novgorod Kremlin has been an outstanding example of military engineering. It is on its territory that such famous sights as the Millennium of Russia monument, St. Sophia Cathedral, and the Vladychnaya Chamber are located.
The fortress walls with a total length of a little less than one and a half kilometers in height reach up to 15 meters, and of the twelve towers of the 15th century, only nine have survived to this day. Now Detinets (the so-called Kremlin), whose area is more than 12 hectares, is protected by UNESCO and is part of the city museum-reserve, the beautiful photographs of which attract visitors from all over the world.
The history of the creation of the Novgorod Kremlin
There is no exact information about when this architectural ensemble was built, it is not known in what year. The first mention of it dates back to 1044, because then the eldest son of Yaroslav the Wise, Prince Vladimir of Novgorod built the first fortress. It was believed that nothing had survived from it, but during the excavations, archaeologists came across oak logs, which most likely belong to the remains of this very fortress of the 11th century.
It was considered a fairly strong structure and was captured only once by the Polotsk prince: he burned part of it and robbed the St. Sophia Cathedral. Detinets was subsequently restored and expanded by the son of Vladimir Monomakh - Prince Mstislav Vladimirovich. It was then that the Novgorod Fortress reached the dimensions that have survived to this day.
In the middle of the 12th century, due to the strengthening of the power of the Novgorod mayor, the prince had to move his residence to Rurikovo Gorodishche, where it was located for more than three and a half centuries. Most of the Novgorod Kremlin at that time was occupied by the archbishop's court, who was responsible for the treasury and control over weights and measures. On the territory of his residence there were numerous churches and economic structures.
By the way, under Archbishop Vasily the construction of the stone Kremlin began, but the complete replacement of the wooden ensemble was completed only in the middle of the 15th century. The limestone stonework of that time has survived fragmentarily to this day, for example, it can be seen next to the Granovita (Vladychnaya) chamber.
The architectural ensemble acquired a more or less modern look after the Novgorod Republic merged with the Moscow principality. Then, firearms were already in full swing in the battles, and the old fortress could not hold out for long in such conditions. Historical sources of that time said that the reconstruction took place according to the old models, but it would be more accurate to say that the fortress was completely rebuilt.
At the very beginning of the 18th century, Peter I issued a decree on the fortification of Detinets, then its towers and walls were repaired. In the middle of the next century, the Millennium of Russia monument was inaugurated. By that time, it was necessary to restore a part of the wall with a length of more than 150 meters, which had collapsed shortly before.
During the Great Patriotic War, the Novgorod Kremlin, like the city itself, suffered greatly from battles and shelling. The tent of the Spasskaya Tower collapsed, and a bomb was dropped on the Kokuy Tower. Since then, the restoration of the previous appearance of the fortress has not stopped: in addition to reconstruction, excavations are constantly taking place there, designed to learn more about the past life of the fortress.
Ensemble
The architectural ensemble of Veliky Novgorod is notable for being considered the first Russian fortress to be built using red bricks. It is believed that, following the example of this particular structure, the construction of structures with teeth in the form of the letter M (also called the dovetail) began. This element is only decorative.
Architects from Italy and workers from Germany were invited for the construction. The fortress represented Detinets, fully suitable for battle with the use of artillery guns. The cannon balls did almost no damage to the towers, the purpose of which was to conduct an all-round defense. Detinets was surrounded on three sides by a deep ditch leading to the Volkhov River.
The towers themselves were made multi-tiered. Being at the very top, the guard could see well at long distances, so the enemy could be seen long before he approached the Novgorod Kremlin. The roofs of the towers narrowed strongly towards the top, so that the poisonous smoke from the gunpowder was better dispersed. Some of them were used for entry, that is, they had a gate. Inside, gate temples were attached to them. The foundations contained dungeons that were used as dungeons, cellars or storerooms for storing food.
Today, the Novgorod Kremlin houses:
- One of the oldest Russian churches - Sophia Cathedral, the construction of which began in 1045. Its belfry is one of the oldest structures of this type, and also one of the largest. There are no analogues to it even at the moment in Russia. By the way, it offers a wonderful view, which can be observed in many pictures of the Kremlin.
- Faceted Chamber - this is the hall in which the most important religious ceremonies of the city were held. It housed rooms for solemn meals and blessings, the bishop's office and a room for storing church utensils. It is considered the only Gothic building in Russia.
- Monument "Millennium of Russia".
- Clock tower, reaching 40 meters in height, it was also used as a fire tower.
- Nine towers, restored from historical descriptions that protrude beyond the line of the fortress walls. All of them are remarkable for their graceful proportions and decorative elements.
Interesting facts about the Novgorod Kremlin
Many legends, secrets and interesting facts are associated with the construction of the Kremlin and the architectural ensemble itself, one of which is associated with the naming of this place with the unusual word "detinets". Many visitors ask themselves why the Kremlin is called Detinets and what does this word mean? In Ancient Russia, this was the name of the fortress, which is surrounded by walls and a moat. Subsequently, the word "Kremlin" began to be used instead. It is believed that the term was originally used in Novgorod and Pskov historical sources. From the latter, over time, he disappeared, so he began to relate exclusively to Novgorod dialectisms.
There is no exact information from which word "detinets" comes from. Some philologists believe that it is associated with the concept of “child” (values in the event of potentially dangerous situations “did” or hid in the fortress) or “grandfather”, since it was here that elderly people gathered to resolve any important issues for the community.
Here are some more interesting information related to the architectural monuments of the structure:
- the largest ceremonial bell of the 18th century weighs about 26 tons;
- during excavations, an original structure of wood was found, thanks to which the shaft did not crumble. It consisted of oak logs, covered with earth and well rammed;
- the names of some towers were invented exclusively by historians or local historians, since they are not indicated in any sources or chronicles;
- at the end of the 18th century, the Church of the Intercession began to be used as a prison temple, since the tower itself next to it was a prison.
Visit to Detinets
Kremlin opening hours allow you to walk on it from the very early morning (6 hours) until midnight, but at individual sites the visiting time varies. Prices depend on what the tourist wants to visit, but they are not high. For example, a visit to the Museum of Fine Arts for an adult will cost 200 rubles. A single ticket has a 30% discount, which includes visiting several attractions at once: both the museum and the Faceted Chamber. There are also days when a preferential regime is established for some categories of citizens and you can come to Detinets absolutely free. Visitors are allowed to take photos, audio guides or excursions are offered for use.
We recommend looking at the Astrakhan Kremlin.
Now the Novgorod Kremlin is a cultural center that attracts many tourists on excursions not only from Russia, but also from other countries. It is a building where the main expositions of the Novgorod Museum are located, in which visitors have something to see: a library and a philharmonic society, an art and music school. The Kremlin ensemble is unusual and original, because it is here that you can see how the architecture of military and civilian objects influenced each other.
