РусскийTFR 2021 Host City
Nizhny Novgorod is one of Russia’s oldest and most beautiful cities, its origins dating back to the 13th century. The city is home to numerous monuments, interesting architectural structures, and other sights that distinguish it advantageously from hundreds of cities. Despite current extensive construction in the city, Nizhny Novgorod has nonetheless preserved its spirit of antiquity, as evidenced by multiple traditions.
Peculiarities of the city’s location
The city is located at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers, just some 400 km (250 miles) from Moscow. Today the city is the administrative centre of the Volga Federal District, its population amounting to around 1.3 million people.
Notably, there are 12 rivers flowing through the city, and over 30 small lakes are located within its territory — not to mention numerous parks and public gardens that render the Nizhny Novgorod even more beautiful and attractive to visitors.
Peculiarities of the city’s location
The city is located at the confluence of the Volga and Oka rivers, just some 400 km (250 miles) from Moscow. Today the city is the administrative centre of the Volga Federal District, its population amounting to around 1.3 million people.
Notably, there are 12 rivers flowing through the city, and over 30 small lakes are located within its territory — not to mention numerous parks and public gardens that render Nizhny Novgorod even more beautiful and attractive to visitors.
The city’s key sights
It is safe to assume that every single tourist who comes here not just to have fun but also to broaden their horizons would benefit greatly from visiting the city’s historic sites and its points of interest. Fortunately, there is a plethora of these here, guaranteeing an exciting time for everyone. Nizhny Novgorod offers its guests an opportunity to enjoy both architectural and sculptural monuments by the score.
The Majestic Nizhny Novgorod Kremlin
The city’s main and perhaps most famous architectural monument is the Kremlin, a majestic 2-kilometre-long fortress wall. The site of the original building was chosen for a reason: it is the highest fortification in the area, offering an overview of both the entire city and the two rivers.
The construction of the fortress wall began during the reign of Yuri Dolgorukov (the Grand Prince of Kyiv in the 12th century, the founder of Moscow) but was only completed by 1515. Despite the structure’s considerable age, 12 of its 13 towers have survived, to this day, in their original form — and are therefore of extreme value from the architectural perspective.
Within the Kremlin’s territory are a whole variety of interesting places, each certainly worth a visit. Among the most well-known and noteworthy is the Museum of Military Technology, the Nizhny Novgorod Philharmonic, and the Mikhailo-Arkhangelsky Cathedral, one of the oldest churches built shortly after the city itself was founded in 1221. When strolling around the Kremlin, you can also see the monuments to Minin and Pozharsky (the Russian national heroes who lead a rebellion against the Polish invasion in the early 17th century), Yuri Dolgorukov, and to Simon of Suzdal (a saint and the spiritual mentor to Yuri Dolgorukov), as well as to the soldiers who died during the Second World War.
The Kremlin is located at the entrance to the central pedestrian street Bolshaya Pokrovskaya.
In olden times, here stood houses of rich merchants and noblemen, members of the aristocracy, famous artists and architects, higher-ups. The street is still paved with cobblestone laid over 150 years ago.
The Chkalov Stairs
It connects the Upper and Lower Volga embankments and is comprised of 560 steps. The staircase was designed and built to a celebrated design forming a figure of eight, developed by architects Alexander Yakovlev and Vladimir Muntz. At the intersections of its steps are specially equipped observation platforms, from where you can take pictures and savour the enchanting view of the city.
Rozhdestvenskaya Street is one of the city’s most picturesque and memorable streets, its variety of architectural solutions nothing short of exceptional. It seems as if different eras, countries, and cultures had met here at some point. At the start of the street is the Church of St. John the Baptist, destroyed during the Soviet years, now restored — this is the historic site where Minin and Pozharsky gathered their militia. The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also known as the Stroganov Church and located in the same street, is truly unique. Built in the early 18th century with funding from the major industrialist Grigori Stroganov, it bears a strong resemblance to the St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow.
The Rozhdestvenskaya Street ends with a majestic view of the Annunciation Monastery, another sight worth visiting. On the other side of the river, behind the Kanavinsky bridge, you can — and you should — enjoy the building of the Nizhny Novgorod Fair, the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, which towers on the riverbank, its foundation of oak logs standing right in the water, and the Old Fair Cathedral.
Among the favourite summer pastimes of the city’s locals and guests alike are boat trips. The river terminal, where the boat walks start, is located on the Lower Volga embankment. During a short river cruise, you can savour the city’s views from the river. The Chkalovsky staircase and the view of the Pechersky Ascension Monastery are particularly mesmerizing.